Globalport Batang Pier have finally learned how to close out games as they arrested a hijack attempt by the struggling Meralco Bolts, 97-89, in the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Globalport is coming off a two-game slide prior to tonight’s match-up with the Bolts, with their recent one brought by Phoenix Fuel Masters last December 28 in which they blew a 26-point lead that translated to a narrow 101-99 loss.
Batang Pier’s win improves their card to 4-3 and are now at the third spot of the standings along with Phoenix Fuel Masters and Blackwater Elite. The Bolts, now on their fourth-game skid, are now down to 2-5.
“We needed that win since it was a bad experience for us, when we were ahead but we weren’t able to keep our composure,” said Globalport head coach Franz Pumaren moments after the match, pertaining to their loss to Phoenix.
Terrence Romeo led Batang Pier once more, scoring 27 markers — 12 in the final quarter alone — on 10 of 23 shooting from the floor along with four boards and five dimes. Niño Cañaleta supplied 13 points highlighted by three treys.
Big man Billy Mamaril flirted with a double-double of 12 points and eight rebounds. Guard Stanley Pringle, despite scoring just nine, also closed near a double-double with nine boards of his.
The Batang Pier were leaning on a comfortable 14-point lead, 69-55, after a Romeo lay-up with 4:11 in the third canto, until the Bolts received a timely spark from Jonathan Grey en route to a 19-5 run capped by a thunderous Chris Newsome dunk to tie the match at 74-all with 9:52 left in the final frame.
From the deadlock, Romeo turned up on offense and took over in the most opportune time, scoring 12 off jumpers and lay-ups in Globalport’s 23-15 outscoring of Meralco in the period to keep the Bolts at bay and seal the much-needed victory.
“This game, we stuck to our own gameplan and played within our system. When we stick to our gameplan, we can survive that kind of game,” Pumaren furthered.
Reynel Hugnatan topscored for the Bolts with 23 points by shooting 8 for 17 fromm the floor. Grey had 18 points, while Newsome posted a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ed Daquioag and Cliff Hodge supplied 12 markers each in the loss.
The Batang Pier shot better from the floor, converting 36 of their 77 tries from the field. However, both squads produced the same outputs in rebounds, 44-all, and assists, 14-all.
Globalport looks to post another win against NLEX Road Warriors next Friday, January 13, 4:15 PM still at the Mall of Asia Arena. Meralco, meanwhile, will aim to end their slump against fellow cellar-dweller Mahindra Floodbuster next week on Wednesday, January 11, 4:15 PM, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
Globalport (97) – Romeo 27, Canaleta 13, Mamaril 12, Cortez 12, Quinahan 11, Pringle 9, Aban 9, Maierhofer 2, Paredes 2, Banal 0, Urbiztondo 0, Pessumal 0.
Meralco (89) – Hugnatan 23, Grey 18, Newsome 16, Hodge 12, Daquioag 12, Buenafe 3, Faundo 2, Caram 2, Amer 1, Uyloan 0, Nabong 0, Ferriols 0.
Quarterscores: 26-19, 51-41, 72-71, 97-89
