By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — Terrence Romeo drilled the game-winning three-pointer with 8 seconds left to lift the GlobalPort Batang Pier to a sensational 107-106 victory over the Alaska Aces Sunday night in their knockout match for the eighth seed of the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
The Batang Pier thus earned the right to go up against the top-seeded Barangay Ginebra Kings Tuesday, but with a twice-to-win disadvantage.
The Aces suffered yet another heartbreaking loss—their eighth straight after winning their first four games—as they crashed out of the conference.
Romeo finished with 26 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Import Justin Harper paced GlobalPort with 32 points and 17 rebounds, while Stanley Pringle dished out 21 markers, six boards and five assists.
Import Cory Jefferson led the Aces with 32 points and 16 rebounds. Calvin Abueva also put up huge numbers of 31 points and 13 boards. Chris Banchero added 16 markers.
The Aces started hot and led by 12 points in the first quarter. But the Batang Pier came charging back in the second period to keep the game close.
The two teams fought tooth and nail the rest of the way with the game still undecided until the last few seconds.
In the final quarter, Alaska and GlobalPort exchanged a series of clutch baskets.
For awhile, it seemed Alaska was on the verge of breaking their franchise record seventh straight loss as Abueva scored on a difficult and-one floater underneath for a 104-103 Alaska lead with 21 ticks left.
But Romeo dazzled his defender, Alaska’s Kevin Racal, before unleashing a cold-blooded three-point shot to give GlobalPort a two-point lead.
Abueva tried another difficult twisting shot against two defenders but missed, sealing Alaska’s doom, as Harper secured the rebound and was fouled.
Harper split his free throws, giving the Aces one last chance to at least send the game into overtime with a three-pointer with 3 seconds left.
But Simon Enciso missed a hurried three-point attempt from the corner. Ping Exciminiano managed to grab the rebound and scored on a put back for the final basket, but it was not enough to save Alaska from another bitter loss.
Games Monday: (Quarters; best-of-3) TNT KaTropa Texters vs. Meralco Bolts and Star Hotshots vs. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
