Unlike their last game, GlobalPort was able to weather the storm and maintain their composure to defeat the Barako Bulls, 81-91. GlobalPort was led by top overall selection Stanley Pringle, who posted 19 points to go with 9 rebounds. Dennis Miranda led Barako with 16 points and 4 rebounds.
GlobalPort trailed their opponent for the first half of the first quarter. Barako’s biggest lead was at 5 thanks to a Jake Pascual offensive rebound and subsequent putback, 14-9. The Pido Jarencio led squad fought back, however, going on a 6-0 run to take the lead, 15-14. Back-to-back triples from hot shot Alex Cabagnot gave GlobalPort their own 5-point lead, 23-18. By the end of the first, GlobalPort led by 4, 21-25.
Former Atenean, Nico Salva sparked a second quarter run for the Barako Bulls. His 3-point basket to start the quarter ignited a 10-0 run, putting his team up, 31-25. Pringle and Yancy De Ocampo fought back, eventually taking the lead, 35-40. Miranda and JC Intal went on a two-man tear, sparking a 10-4 run capped by a high flying dunk by Intal, giving Barako the lead once more, 45-44. Back-to-back baskets by Cabagnot retook the lead for GlobalPort, but the celebration was short-lived as a last-second Miranda floater cut the deficit to 1 at the end of the first half, 48-47.
A Pringle basket gave GlobalPort a 3-point lead at the start of the third quarter, but a triple by Barako tied the game at 52. A Jeric Fortuna jumped gave his team a temporary lead, but a 16-4 run by GlobalPort gave them the lead for good, 70-58. A Dave Marcelo basket followed by an R.R. Garcia triple cut the lead to 5, but 2 freethrows from De Ocampo gave GlobalPort a 7-point lead to end the third, 67-74.
Keith Jensen and Cabagnot started the fourth with back-to-back baskets, giving GlobalPort a 9-point lead. This was Cabagnot’s 21st point. Barako attempted a comeback during the last quarter, but they only ended up trading baskets with GlobalPort. A Pringle basket with less than 2 minutes in the game was the last made shot of the game, and GlobalPort went on to bag their first victory of the season, 91-81.
