After suffering consecutive losses, Terrence Romeo and the Batang Pier team needed to gain some sort of momentum to find their winning ways once more.
Late Sunday afternoon, the GlobalPort Batang Pier may have found their confidence back, trouncing Carlo Lastimosa and the Blackwater Elite in a high-scoring affair, 120-105, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
GlobalPort started well in the first quarter, when a Keith Jensen layup put up an 11-2 lead. Despite their lacklustre start, Blackwater recovered well and a Mike Cortez jumper leveled the scores at eleven apiece. A Terrence Romeo four-point play later in the quarter steered GlobalPort to a 29-18 advantage, but Carlo Lastimosa’s six straight points cut the deficit for Blackwater to 24-31. Nevertheless, GlobalPort ended the first quarter with a 36-27 edge over Blackwater.
Lastimosa continued his hot streak early in the second quarter to slice GlobalPort’s control of the game at 35-38. However, Joseph Yeo’s five consecutive points quelled Blackwater and Billy Mamaril restored GlobalPort’s ten point lead, 47-37. Reil Cervantes’ hot hands then trimmed Globaport’s command of the match at 56-61. Doug Kramer made a three point play but Raffy Reyes scored a trey to finish the half. Globalport carried a 64-59 lead into the second half.
Stanley Pringle made back-to-back threes to give GlobalPort a good start in the third quarter 74-61. Art Dela Cruz subsequently carved it to a ten point game once again, but another Pringle three restored GlobalPort’s thirteen point advantage. Maierhoffer then made baskets to close out the third quarter with GlobalPort in cruise control at 93-85.
Roi Sumang’s jumper raised Globalport’s lead 101-87 at the near the inception of the fourth quarter. Romeo then stretched Globalport’s mastery of Blackwater 115-99 late in the fourth quarter via a three point play. Free throws from Bambam Gamalinda and Lastimosa gave Blackwater a glimmer of hope with two minutes to go, 103-115. Nevertheless, Romeo’s put back and shot from fifteen feet ended any chance for Blackwater. Final score was 120-105 in favor of GlobalPort.
“Kasi ako galing ako sa bad shooting na game,” Romeo disclosed after the game. “Sinabi ko na this game magiging aggressive ako. Ngayon, naka-bawi na ako pero kelangan ko pa rin gandahan yung shooting ko mas lalo na three games na lang natitira sa amin.”
When asked what the team lack, Romeo quickly responded that they still need to work on defensive instinct, having given up 105 points in the game. “Tingin ko defense. Kelangan namin ma-maintain yun all throughout the game. Kelangan din namin balikan yung mga talo namin at matuto sa mga yun.”
Romeo and Pringle scored 26 and 17 points respectively for Globalport, while Kramer finished the game with 16 markers and 15 rebounds. Lastimosa enjoyed a career-high game for Blackwater with his 31 points.
This was Globalport’s fourth win in the current campaign, and they have increased their hold on a spot in the playoffs. Blackwater faced their sixth loss this season, putting their post-season participation in jeopardy.
Up next for Globalport are the NLEX Road Warriors on December 2, 2015 (Wednesday; 4:15PM) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. On the other hand, Blackwater face a resurgent Ginebra on December 5, 2015 (Saturday; 7:00PM) in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The Scores:
Globalport (120) – Romeo 26, Pringle 17, Kramer 15, Yeo 14, Maierhofer 13, Washington 8, Jensen 6, Semerad 5, Sumang 5, Paniamogan 3, Taha 2, Uyloan 0.
Blackwater (105) – Lastimosa 31, Reyes 16, Cervantes 11, Canada 10, Erram 9, Gamalinda 9, Dela Cruz 7, Cortez 6, Sena 4, Melano 2, Agovida 0, Ballesteros 0, Golla 0.
Quarterscores: 36-27, 64-59, 93-85, 120-105.
