Desperation can be felt from the Globalport Batang Pier and the NLEX Road Warriors Wednesday night. And it showed with how the game was played as both teams struggled to find any semblance of fluidity on both ends.
But in the end, it was Globalport who wanted it more, taking an 85-82 win over NLEX, to avoid a 0-5 start at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier were without head coach Franz Pumaren and later on in the final frame, were without leading scorer Terrence Romeo after cramping up late in the third frame. But it was the loss of assistant coach Senen Duenas early in the day that provided the lift to the down team.
“Very emotional on our team kasi they really worked hard for this. Two days ago, we saw in their eyes talagang they are pushing each other. They didn’t want to lose this game,” lead assistant coach Eric Gonzales shared. “Tapos may mga nangyari, nawala si coach Senen Duenas. Very close siya sa mga players. Dinedicate nila ito para sa kanya.”
This lift was what the Batang Pier needed when they could not find the bucket during a 10-2 NLEX rally that was capped by a booming triple by Wayne Chism with 34.9 seconds to go that knotted the game at 80-all.
“Kanina, pinaalala ko sa kanila na tinambakan kami ni Alaska tapos nawala kami against Star. Nandun na kami pero bumibitaw kami. Sabi ko sa kanila na, ‘guys, I really love yung nakita ko sa court kanina. Huwag kayo ma-frustrate,'” Gonzales reflected.
Off a timeout, Stanley Pringle found Malcolm White on the block. As White, who was just in his second game for Globalport, backed down on Chism, he was able to find a little space to knock down a turnaround jumper with 23.8 ticks left.
NLEX had a chance to send the game into extra time after a split on the stripe by White, a putback by Raul Soyod, and free throws by Pringle gave Globalport a three-point lead with five seconds remaining. With no timeouts left, Juami Tiongson was able to run the court and throw a Hail Mary heave with little time to spare. The shot though barely hit the rim as the Batang Pier finally picked up its first win.
“Kanina gusto ko ibalik si Terrence pero pinulikat pero ang daming nag-step up, sila Papot, sila Stanley, ang dami!,” Gonzales said.
Coming off his 32-point debut, Malcolm White led Globalport with 23 points on 50 percent shooting to go along with 16 rebounds and five blocks. Stanley Pringle added 15 points.
Globalport led by as much as 10 points late in the third quarter but early foul trouble gave NLEX a bunch of charities to rally back in the final frame.
Romeo finished the game with 12 points but was limited to just 28 minutes of action, leaving the floor with 3:06 left in the game.
Chism paced NLEX with 29 points and 14 rebounds. Soyud added 12 much-needed points as the backcourt of Kevin Alas and Garvo Lanete combined for just a solitary point. The Road Warriors lost their 11th straight contest with their last win coming last January 7, 2017.
Globalport looks to build on this win as they face TNT Katropa on Friday, April 21 at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. NLEX, who is now at a 0-6 predicament, takes on Ginebra on Wednesday, April 19 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Scores:
Globalport (85) – White 23, Pringle 15, Romeo 12, Ababou 8, Cortez 8, Pessumal 8, Quinahan 5, Mamaril 4, Maierhofer 2, Aban 0, Forreter 0, Paredes 0, Pennisi 0.
NLEX (82) – Chism 29, Soyud 12, Rios 7, Monfort 6, Tiongson 5, Villanueva 5, Guinto 4, Al-Hussaini 3, Anthony 3, Taulava 3, Baracael 2, Khobuntin 1, Alas 1, Lanete 0, Lastimosa 0.
Quarterscores: 21-25, 49-46,71-64, 85-82.
