Terrence Romeo scored a career-high 44 points, as the Globalport Batang Pier clicked at the perfect time of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup with a 117-99 victory over slumping Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, Sunday night at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The now quarterfinals-bound Batang Pier ended the eliminations with a 6-5 win-loss slate, becoming the sixth team to book a spot in the next round. Rain or Shine, meanwhile, flunked another playoff-clinching opportunity and went to 5-5.
“Coming into this game, we talked about it. We lost crucial games down the stretch. The game against TNT proved something, that we don’t give up,” said coach Franz Pumaren.
“I guess it’s a Terrence Romeo and a Stanley Pringle story, but you need to give credit to our defense.”
The 5’10 guard, who had two 41-point outings before, nailed his career-best by shooting 16-of-30 from the field, with eight of those coming from beyond the arc. He also grabbed six rebounds and dished out six assists in an all-around effort.
On the other hand, his backcourt teammate, Pringle, also delivered as he finished with 28 markers — 11 from the third — on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with six boards and four dimes to complete the wrath of the Slash Brothers.
JR Quiñahan, who had been traded by Rain or Shine for Jay Washington, was the only other Batang Pier to score in double-digits, scoring 11 points. Forwards Rico Maierhofer and Yutien Andrada made their presence felt in the rebounding department, combining for 15 boards.
The Elasto Painters erased an 18-point deficit to just 11, 90-79, after a three-point play conversion by Jeff Chan with 6:24 to go in the game’s final chapter. However, that proved to be the closest RoS could get.
The Batang Pier waxed hot on offense, turning up a 21-9 scoring spree capped by a three-pointer by Romeo — his seventh of the game — to establish the game’s widest gap at 23, 111-88, with 1:17 left, enough to keep the Elasto Painters at bay and seal the victory.
With the accomplishment made by his team, Pumaren’s sights are now locked into the upcoming playoffs.
“For me, I’m looking for the best-of-three. That’s the best that we can wish for at this stage. It’s going to be hard if we end at number seven but we don’t have control of our fate,” said Pumaren.
The Elasto Painters were led by Chan with 26 points on a decent 8-of-16 from the floor. Jay Washington backed him up with 11. Jewel Ponferrada almost had a double-double of eight points and nine rebounds.
In the team stats, Globalport shot better collectively, hitting 42 of their 87 tries from the floor. Their defense also proved to be outstanding, forcing Rain or Shine to commit 20 turnovers.
The Elasto Painters will try to bounce back and wrap up their elimination round campaign on Wednesday, February 1, against the Alaska Aces at 7:00 PM still at the Astrodome.
The Scores:
Globalport (117) – Romeo 44, Pringle 28, Quinahan 11, Semerad 9, Pessumal 6, Canaleta 6, Maierhofer 4, Pennisi 3, Andrada 2, Cortez 2, Paredes 2, Mamaril 0, Urbiztondo 0.
Rain or Shine (99) – Chan 26, Washington 11, Yap 9, Cruz 9, Ponferada 8, Norwood 7, Belga 7, Tiu 7, Tolomia 5, Maiquez 4, Ahanmisi 3, Matias 3.
Quarterscores: 23-16, 50-50, 75-65, 117-99.
