IN desperation mode, GlobalPort showed urgency, easily demolishing woeful Mahindra, 105-86, to notch a much-needed win in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In the absence of Terrence Romeo due to injury, his partner Stanley Pringle stepped it up a notch and led the Batang Pier with 24 points on 11-of-14 shooting, to go with five assists as his offense took center stage.
Import Malco White helped him out with 16 points and 17 rebounds.
The Batang Pier broke the game wide open in the second quarter after a solid opening frame.
A highlight-reel alley-oop slam of James Forrester from Mike Cortez’s feed gave GlobalPort a gigantic 47-31 spread with just less than two minutes left before halftime.
Overall, the Batang Pier outscored the Floodbuster, 27-19, in the second to take a sizeable 49-36 advantage at the turn.
GlobalPort was able to do this thanks to Pringle’s solid start as he scored 17 on 8-of-10 shooting of his total points in the first 24 minutes.
From there, GlobalPort cruised and did not look back as it likewise took care of business in the second half.
Just five minutes into the third, the Batang Pier increased its lead further, taking a huge 21-point cushion, 62-41.
The teams entered their duel with only one win each. The game was essential as the winner will get itself back in the hunt for a place in the top eight.
Fortunately for the Batang Pier, it came out on top and it now improved to 2-5 and kept its hopes alive.
Mahindra suffered its fifth straight defeat and fell to 1-7, still in 11th place.
The scores:
GLOBALPORT 105 – Pringle 24, White 16, Pessumal 14, Cortez 12, Quinahan 11, Aban 10, Forrester 7, Paredes 6, Ababou 5, Mamaril 0, Pennisi 0.
MAHINDRA 86 – Wright 23, Celda 18, Paniamogan 14, Corpuz 8, Deutchman 6, Elorde 4, Salva 4, Caperal 2, Mallari 2, Yee 2, Ballesteros 1, David 1, Galanza 1, Revilla 0, Teng 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarterscores: 105-86
