The GlobalPort Batang Pier came back from as much as 16 down and broke the hearts of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 114-113, in their 2018 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series, Tuesday at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier have blown Rain or Shine’s twice-to-beat advantage, and forced a rubber match on Thursday, July 12, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Sophomore guard Jonathan Grey was the man of the match with his third career-best 22 points, with 12 in the final frame alone. Grey all but gave GlobalPort the win as his corner trey went in with 11 ticks left.
“Kinick ni Malcolm [White], nalibre, tinira,” said Batang Pier head coach Pido Jarencio. “Give and take. Kung wala, nakuha nila, e ‘di talo tayo. Sabi ko naman sa kanya, ‘laruan mo naman ako. Bigyan mo ‘ko ng depensa, bigyan mo ‘ko ng score’. ‘Sige coach.’ sabi niya. Kaya yung playing time andon, at the same time nag-deliver. For sure priority na siya sa rotation.”
Malcolm White top-scored for GlobalPort with 28 points along with 16 rebounds, while Stanley Pringle almost had a triple-double as he collected 21 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. Sean Anthony chipped in 11 markers.
The climb the Batang Pier had to make to emerge victorious was a tedious one. From a 73-89 deficit late in the third, GlobalPort zoomed to an 18-2 scoring spree to tie the game at 91-all with 9:36 remaining in the fourth canto.
RoS regained control minutes later as they posted a 106-98 with 4:45 to go. But GlobalPort were just too wily, as they rallied from that deficit to send the game into another deadlock, 110-all, with 1:50 remaining.
The Elasto Painters moved just 16 seconds away from the semifinals, 113-111, but the breaks just didn’t go their way. Grey made the booming trey, and the Batang Pier defended RoS well on the other end to preserve the win.
“Yung mga players talagang… Ako nga ‘di ko alam na mananalo kami eh,” quipped Jarencio. “It’s all about the breaks of the game.”
Reggie Johnson led RoS with 24 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists in the loss. Raymond Almazan had a double-double as well with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while James Yap supplied 16 markers in over 18 minutes.
Maverick Ahanmisi — who missed three straight triples inside the final 39 seconds, that left the door wide open for GlobalPort — finished with 15 points and eight boards. Ed Daquioag provided 14 points and two steals.
According to the league’s chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, GlobalPort are now one win away from becoming the fourth eight-seeded team to topple the top-ranked team in the quarterfinals after: Powerade (versus B-Meg) in 2012 Phillipine Cup; San Miguel Beer (versus TNT) in 2002 Governor’s Cup, and Barangay Ginebra (versus Mobiline) in 1999 All-Filipino Cup.
The Scores:
GlobalPort 114 – White 28, Grey 22, Pringle 21, Anthony 11, Elorde 7, Taha 6, Tautuaa 6, Javelona 4, Espinas 3, Guinto 3, Teng 3, Arana 0
Rain or Shine 113 – Johnson 24, Almazan 17, Yap 16, Ahanmisi 15, Daquioag 14, Tiu 10, Norwood 9, Belga 8, Torres 0
Quarterscores: 24-26, 52-60, 83-91, 114-113
