Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta)
4:15 p.m. – NLEX vs Phoenix
7 p.m. – Meralco vs Rain or Shine
All Terrence Romeo needed was a split-second opening from 3-point range, and LA Tenorio biting big time into an ankle-breaking crossover move.
Romeo faked a drive that shook off Tenorio from top of the key and then buried a step-back three-pointer with 55 seconds remaining to lift Globalport past Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 89-85, last night, sending the Kings to their second straight loss in the Oppo-PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier bounced back from an opening loss to Mahindra two days ago and did it against the team they ousted in the quarterfinal playoffs of the previous Philippine Cup.
With the score tied, 85-all, Romeo, who led Globalport with 21 points, including five triples, went one-on-one with the Ginebra point guard and delivered the evening’s most memorable clutch basket.
“The play was for Terrence to do as he pleased; it was his call to make,” said Globalport coach Pido Jarencio, who also got 19 points and 17 rebounds from import Brian Williams.
Humiliated by Romeo in front of a predominant Ginebra crowd, Tenorio sought redemption but his corner 3-pointer veered to the right and Stanley Pringle finished off the Kings with two free throws.
The loss was another heartbreaker after Ginebra bowed to the NLEX Road Warriors in overtime, 114-112, earlier.
Meanwhile, Carlo Lastimosa scored 26 points and Reil Cervantes added 24, including 4 of 4 three-pointers in the fourth quarter, as the Blackwater Elite turned back the Mahindra Enforcers, 110-102.
The Elite rebounded from an opening loss to defending champion Tropang TNT while the Enforcers failed to make it two in-a-row after their upset victory over Globalport.
Rookie Art dela Cruz and import MJ Rhett each had 19 points, with Rhett spicing his performance with 18 rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots in 43 minutes. The former Tennessee State standout debuted with 16 points and seven rebounds against the Texters.
“He knows NBA scouts are watching the PBA so this is a challenge for him to dominate,” Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said of Rhett, who was snubbed in last season’s NBA draft. “He helps us with our goal and we do the same for his dreams.”
Isaac made it clear, however, that nothing is cast in stone as to Rhett’s tenure with the Elite.
“He has the potential to blossom but his spot isn’t secured just yet; it’s still day-to-day for us,” said Isaac. “There’s no timeline, but right now everything stays.”
A red-hot Cervantes torched the Enforcers for 18 points in the final 12 minutes, while Lastimosa, who exploded for a career-high 39 points against TNT, had 10 as the two combined for 28 of Blackwater’s 33 fourth quarter points, outscoring the entire Mahindra team (27) during the period.
Scores:
BLACKWATER 110 – Lastimosa 26, Cervantes 24, Dela Cruz 19, Rhett 19, Reyes 12, Cortez 5, Gamalinda 2, Golla 2, Bulawan 1, Canada 0.
MAHINDRA 102 – Gilchrist 34, Dehesa 14, Canaleta 13, Ramos 10, Yee 8, Jaime 7, Bagatsing 5, Pinto 5, Digregorio 2, Guinto 2, Revilla 2, Alvarez 0, Hubalde 0.
Quarters: 25-20; 43-49; 77-75; 110-102
Second Game:
GLOBALPORT 89 – Romeo 21, Williams 19, Pringle 14, Mamaril 12, Semerad 7, Kramer 6, Jensen 5, Uyloan 3, Taha 2, Maierhofer 0, Sumang 0, Washington 0, Yeo 0.
GINEBRA 85 – Slaughter 20, Aguilar 16, Mercado 11, Caguioa 10, Jeffers 8, Thompson 8, Cruz 4, Ellis 4, Tenorio 4, Devance 0.
Quarters: 33-20, 56-43, 70-65, 89-85