The GlobalPort Batang Pier avenged Saturday’s loss to the Magnolia Hotshots by venting their ire on the NLEX Road Warriors, 116-94, to get their third win in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier have improved to 3-2, while the Road Warriors — who were coming off a 120-115 win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters five nights ago — have went 1-4.
“Actually we just played good basketball,” said GlobalPort head coach Pido Jarencio. “We defended well. Hats off to the players. Lahat tulong-tulong. Total team effort. Sana maging consistent kaming ganoon.”
Sean Anthony led GlobalPort with 21 points and seven rebounds. Malcolm White produced 21 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks — all that despite nursing back spasms. Stanley Pringle made 19 points and eight dimes.
It was close in the first 12 minutes, with GlobalPort only leading by five, 25-20, but the game’s complexity took a turn in the following frame, when the Batang Pier sprinted past the Road Warriors en route to a 54-41 lead.
NLEX tried to stage a comeback in the third by wiping out the deficit and closing in by as narrow as three, 57-54, after Alex Mallari’s freebies with 9:37 to go, but GlobalPort responded with a 14-7 spree to erect a 71-61 edge, 6:05 left.
From there, it was a one-sided affair, and GlobalPort’s lead ballooned to as much as 22 with 41 ticks left to play, which eventually became the final score.
Nico Elorde had his best game of the conference so far with 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists in the win. Mo Tautuaa imposed his presence inside yet again and scattered 13 points on just two misses with 11 caroms.
Kiefer Ravena — who spearheaded the third quarter surge by NLEX — led the Road Warriors with 24 points and five rebounds. Arnett Moultrie produced 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Larry Fonacier chipped in 11 markers on two triples.
JR Quiñahan only scored six, bur he hauled down 10 rebounds.
GlobalPort will next play the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sunday, May 20, while NLEX will look to return to the win column versus the Blackwater Elite on May 30, Wednesday. Both games are set at 4:30 PM still at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
Globalport 116 — Anthony 21, White 20, Pringle 19, Elorde 16, Tautuaa 13, Sargent 10, Araña 6, Grey 6, Javelona 3, Guinto 2, Teng 0.
NLEX 94 — Ravena 24, Moultrie 19, Fonacier 11, Ighalo 8, Mallari 6, Quiñahan 6, Buenafe 5, Miranda 5, Monfort 3, Soyud 3, Gotladera 2, Tiongson 2, Baguio 0.
Quarterscores: 26-20, 55-43, 86-72, 116-94.
