JAY R. GOTERA
Saudi Gazette
MANILA — Bouncing back from a loss, the GlobalPort Batang Pier outsteadied Barangay Ginebra Kings in the endgame for an 89-85 victory Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The Kings, who were coming from a heartbreaking loss to the NLEX Road Warriors on Friday, thus absorbed their second straight defeat and fell into the bottom of the standings. Ginebra also failed to avenge their playoff loss in the last Philippine Cup to GlobalPort, which opened its campaign this conference with a loss to Mahindra.
GlobalPort sensation Terrence Romeo once again led his team with 21 points – including the go-ahead clutch three-pointer with less than a minute left.
Import Brian Williams added 19 points, 17 rebounds and five assists. Stanley Pringle and Billy Mamaril chipped in 14 and 12 markers, respectively.
Greg Slaughter came back from sick bay to lead Ginebra with 20 points while his frontcourt partner Japeth Aguilar had 16.
Import Othyus Jeffers could not get his shots to fall, finishing with just eight points. He compensated though by hauling down 16 rebounds.
Ginebra was up, 85-84, with 55 seconds left when Romeo let loose a booming three-pointer from way out off Ginebra’s LA Tenorio to give GlobalPort the lead, 87-85.
Ginebra’s Jeffers drove to the hoop but missed. Slaughter got the offensive board but also missed on a tip-in.
After a defensive stop, the Kings had another chance to tie the score or go for the win but Tenorio missed on a wide-open three-point shot from the left corner.
GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle then sealed the win with two free throws.
Blackwater 110, Mahindra 102
Carlo Lastimosa continued to make waves in the league as he reprised his career-high 39 points in Blackwater’s conference opener with a 26-point explosion on Sunday to lead the Elite to a 110-102 win over fellow expansion club Mahindra Enforcers.
Reil Cervantes added 24 points, 18 of them in a spectacular fourth quarter performance. Rookie Art Dela Cruz also had an explosive game, finishing with 19 points.
Blackwater import MJ Rhett also had 19 points plus 18 rebounds.
Mahindra import Augustus Gilchrist led his team with 34 points and 14 rebounds.
The Elite thus bounced back from their first game loss to Talk N Text Wednesday while the Enforcers suffered their first loss after defeating the Batang Pier in their conference opener Friday.
It was Blackwater’s second win over Mahindra this season.
Games Wednesday: NLEX Road Warriors (1-0) vs. Phoenix Petroleum Fuel Masters (0-0) and Meralco Bolts (2-0) vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (1-0).
