By Jay R. Gotera
MANILA — The GlobalPort Batang Pier skyrocketed to a double-digit lead right in the opening quarter, then held off the San Miguel Beermen the rest of the way for a huge 98-92 victory in the PBA Governors’ Cup Friday night.
The Batang Pier showed it meant business right from the get-go as it went on a massive 21-3 run, closing the first quarter with a 17-point lead, 25-8.
Although the Beermen closed the gap and made it a game in the second quarter, the Batang Pier hung tough and never relinquished its lead until the final buzzer.
Last year’s top draft pick Stanley Pringle scored a team-high 25 points while his equally illustrious backcourt partner Terrence Romeo added 18 markers and seven assists.
Import Michael Glover posted a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds as GlobalPort improved to a 2-4 win-loss record, tying Phoenix at eighth to ninth spot in the standings.
Despite the loss, SMB remains at the upper half of the standings with its 4-2 card, tied with Barangay Ginebra and Mahindra at second to fourth spot.
The loss rendered meaningless the 41-point explosion of SMB import Arizona Reid, who openly showed displeasure at his teammates in the closing moments of the game with SMB unable to match GlobalPort’s grit and focus.
TNT KaTropa 124, Phoenix Fuel Masters 117
Led by their two imports, the TNT KaTropa crushed the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 124-117, for their sixth straight victory in the conference.
For the first time, Asian import Michael Madanly from Syria paced TNT with 30 points, including 8-for-13 (61 percent) shooting from three-point range.
Mychal Ammons, KaTropa’s other import, churned out 22 points, 18 rebounds and three assists.
Ranidel De Ocampo was the top local scorer, finishing with 17 points, including three treys. Rookie Kris Rosales and star point guard Jayson Castro added 13 and 11 markers, respectively. Castro also had a team-high eight assists.
TNT shot a terrific 19-for-41 (46 percent) from beyond the arc, tying the season-high three-point shooting percentage record and equaling the sixth highest total all-time.
Import Eugene Phelps exploded for 49 points and 18 rebounds for Phoenix, but still this was not enough to stop the team from sliding to a 2-4 win-loss card.
Game Saturday: Alaska Aces (1-4) vs. Star Hotshots (1-4).
