After trailing for most of the first three quarters of the game, the Global Port Batang Pier exploded in the fourth quarter, overtaking the Kia Sorento to bag their second win of the Philippine Cup after an 84-79 victory, Tuesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Powered by 8 points from former University of the East standout Hans Thiele, Kia easily gained momentum in the first quarter, going all out on the offensive while a misfiring Global Port squad struggled to find their touch. With less than a minute left on the clock, Kia’s Chad Alonzo and Global Port rookie Anthony Semerad figured in a scuffle after finding themselves tangled up following a battle for the rebound. Both Alonzo and Semerad were slapped technical fouls before both being subbed out by their respective teams in order to cool off. Kia closed out the quarter with an 18-13.
The Batang Pier welcomed the second quarter with five straight points to come within striking distance, 18-19, in the first two minutes of the period. Finally finding their touch, Pido Jarencio’s squad would eventually force a 33-all deadlock with two-and-a-half minutes left on the clock. Led by enforcer Reil Cervantes, Kia however would pull away once more, building 14-3 run in the final two minutes to take the 47-36 at the end of the half.
GlobalPort opened the second half with eight straight points to trim the double digit lead to a mere three points, 47-44, with nine minutes left on the clock. Kia would continue to pace the scoring for most of the quarter, but a better-shooting GlobalPort managed to keep within striking distance. Three successful free throw charities from Mark Isip gave Global Port a taste of the lead, 59-57, entering the final two minutes of the period. Global Port would go on to hold on to the lead, 62-61, to close out the quarter.
Another near-fracas broke out early in the fourth quarter, this time from Kia’s Reil Cervantes and GlobalPort’s Jewel Ponferada. The scuffle started when Cervantes gave Ponferada a hard foul while trying to snatch the ball, just inches away from the Kia bench. The scuffle was immediately broken apart before tempers could flare up even more. Both Cervantes and Ponferada were slapped with technical fouls.
The fourth quarter saw the two squads trade baskets, leading to several deadlocks on the scoreboard. A triple from John Pinto halfway through the quarter gave the Batang Pier the means to take control of the game, eventually holding on to the lead entering the final two minutes of the game. Leading 80-76 in the final two minutes, a couple of offensive rebounds would come in handy for the Global port cause. The Batang Pier would sink a few more free throw charities to pad the lead and exit with the 84-79 victory.
Ronjay Buenafe took home Player of the Game honors, after sinking 19 points. Rookies Stanley Pringle and Anthony Semerad chipped 13 and 12 respectively. Hans Thiele paced Kia with 19 points of his own, along with 8 rebounds.
GlobalPort rise to 2-2, while Kia fall to 1-3. The league newcomers have lost three straight assignments since winning the season opener against fellow expansion team Blackwater Elite.
