The 2017 Governor’s Cup playoff cast is now complete
The Blackwater Elite did well enough down the stretch to endure a Terrence Romeo-less Globalport Batang Pier’s challenge, 118-107, to complete the quarterfinal picture, Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
This will now be the Elite’s second playoff appearance in team history. The win — which not only booted out the Batang Pier, but the Alaska Aces as well — improved their card to 5-5. Globalport, meanwhile, went down to 3-7.
“A win against Global will put us in a spot in the playoffs, so every instruction was geared towards getting that win to prime ourselves of a playoff spot,” said Elite coach Leo Isaac. “Luckily we were able to withstand them in the fourth.”
Six players scored in double figures for Blackwater, with new acquisition Allein Maliksi top-billing in his debut with 22 points on 58 percent shooting. The former Star Hotshot also added five rebounds and two steals.
“Impressive,” lauded Isaac of Maliksi. “Nangangapa pa, pero impressive.”
The Elite were already ahead by as many as 21 points in the third canto, but the Batang Pier made a furious rally late in the final quarter that saw them inch as near as six, 105-111, after Sean Anthony’s and-one with 1:51 to go.
Globalport had chances to trim the gap further, but they could not build a game-changing surge anymore as they missed their shots. JP Erram’s contested baseline jumper with 1:14 left gave Blackwater the lead for good, 115-107.
Roi Sumang supplied 22 markers for the Elite. Henry Walker was all over the place with 19 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and five blocks, while Mike Di Gregorio punched 16. Dave Marcelo and JP Erram scored 13 and 11, respectively.
Murphey Holloway powered Globalport with 28 points and 23 rebounds, while Stanley Pringle supplied 27 markers and seven boards.
Romeo was ejected with five minutes remaining in the second quarter after a tussle with Walker, whom he had thrown the ball to after committing a turnover. The 25-year-old prematurely finished the match with 13 points.
Blackwater will next face the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Saturday, September 23, 3:00 PM at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, while Globalport will look to end the conference strong versus the Meralco Bolts on Friday, September 22, 7:00 PM at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Scores:
Blackwater 118 – Maliksi 22, Sumang 21, Walker 19, Digregorio 16, Marcelo 13, Erram 11, Belo 8, Pinto 8, Canaleta 0, Cruz 0.
Globalport 107 – Holloway 28, Pringle 27, Romeo 13, Baracael 11, Anthony 8, Guinto 6, Cortez 6, Arana 4, Cardona 4, Hubalde 0, Mamaril 0.
Quarterscores: 31-29, 62-50, 92-77, 118-107.
