GlobalPort made it a forgettable PBA comeback for new Blackwater head coach Bong Ramos, as the Batang Pier sent the Elite to a 0-4 hole, 117-106, Wednesday at Ynares Center, Antipolo.
Three Batang Pier scored 20-plus points in the win that sent them to 2-1. Sean Anthony continued his stellar play, leading the pack with 29 points on top of 13 rebounds and eight assists.
Import Malcolm Whote produced 28 points and eight rebounds, while Stanley Pringle was all over the place yet again, as he supplied 26 points, seven assists, six caroms, and a steal.
Mo Tautuaa was the only other Batang Pier to finish in double figures, as he chipped in 14 points along with 10 rebounds.
The Elite’s loss wasted the performance of import Jarrid Famous, who had 41 points and 22 rebounds.
Mike DiGregorio backed Famous up with 19 points and seven rebounds. Mac Belo and Poy Erram each had 10 points, with the former adding seven dimes. Roi Sumang provided 10 markers.
This is Blackwater’s first-ever game without former head coach Leo Isaac, who was sacked just this Monday in the wake of the Elite’s 0-3 start in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
Isaac has been with Blackwater since the franchise’s early days in the PBA D-League, when they were still known as Blackwater Sports. That relationship bore one D-League title.
Isaac left the franchise with a total record of 29 wins and 85 losses, and two quarterfinal appearances.
Ramos, on the other hand, returns to the PBA after four years, as he was coaching Stapac Jakarta in the Indonesian Basketball League. He last coached the now-defunct Barako Bull in 2014.
The Scores:
Globalport 117 – Anthony 29, White 28, Pringle 26, Tautuaa 14, Elorde 6, Grey 5, Araña 4, Guinto 3, Sargent 2, Teng 0, Gabayni 0, Viernes 0.
Blackwater 106 – Famous 41, DiGregorio 19, Belo 11, Erram 11, Sumang 10, Sena 7, Maliksi 5, Marcelo 2, Cruz 0, Pinto 0.
Quarterscores: 30-35, 62-64, 97-81, 117-106.
