by Waylon Galvez
Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena)
2:45 p.m. – Barako Bull vs Air21
5:15 p.m. – Barangay Ginebra vs Meralco
Games Tomorrow (Mall of Asia Arena)
3 p.m. – Globalport vs Rain or Shine
5:15 p.m. – San Miguel Beer vs San Mig Super Coffee
Manila, Philippines – Globalport survived a late charge by Alaska as the Batang Pier claimed their first victory this conference with a 95-91 triumph in the season-ending PBA PLDT Home Telpad Governors’ Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Batang Pier import Leroy Hickerson collected 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, the last a key offensive board when he collared the leather after Jay Washington muffed his pair of free throws with 8.4 seconds left in the game.
Hickerson quickly gave the ball to point guard Alex Cabagnot, who was fouled by Cyrus Baguio with 4.7 seconds to play. After missing his first free throw, Cabagnot nailed his second foul shot to seal the win for Globalport.
The win put Globalport in the win column after it dropped its first game against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (89-71) last Tuesday, thus giving rookie head coach Pido Jarencio his second win after the Batang Pier went 1-8 in his maiden conference in the previous Commissioner’s Cup.
Cabagnot finished with 24 points, while rookie shooting guard Terrence Romeo, who missed the team’s opening game against the Kings due to back injury, added 18 points. Washington contributed 13 markers.
“Ngayon naging consistent kami all the way, nag-miss lang kami ng free throws (down the stretch) but it was a good start para sa amin,” added Jarencio.
The return of the 5-foot-11 Romeo to the lineup gave Jarencio a deeper rotation at the guard spot, and the former Far Eastern University stalwart – fifth overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft – was pleased to be able to contribute.
“Ginawa ko lang ‘yung dapat na gawin para maka-tulong sa team,” said Romeo, adding that there is still pain in his back.
Globalport led by as many as 17 points (53-36) early in the third quarter, but the Aces rallied and trimmed the deficit to only four points, 66-62, entering the last period. The closest Alaska got to was at, 94-91, when import Henry Walker made a triple with 11.8 seconds to play.
In the main game, June Mar Fajardo and Reggie Williams to help the San Miguel Beermen pull out a 97-92 win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
The scores:
First game:
Globalport 95 – Hickerson 25, Cabagnot 24, Romeo 18, Washington 13, Garcia 8, Ponferada 4, Macapagal 2, Matias 1, Taha 0, Menk 0, Hayes 0, Salvador 0.
Alaska 91 – Walker 22, Casio 16, Espinas 14, Abueva 14, Baguio 8, Jazul 6, Hontiveros 5, Manuel 4, Thoss 2.
Quarterscores: 24-22, 48-34, 66-62, 95-91
Second game:
San Miguel Beer 97 – Williams 29, Fajardo 28, Santos 10, Lassiter 8, Maierhofer 7, Tubid 5, Ross 4, Lutz 4, Chua 2, Lanete 0, Kramer 0, Mercado 0.
Rain or Shine 92 – Reid 27, Lee 13, Tiu 11, Almazan 9, Chan 9, Rodriguez 8, Norwood 5, Uyloan 3, Cruz 2, Arana 2, Ibanes 2, Nuyles 1, Belga 0.
Quarterscores: 21-11, 44-42, 66-68, 97-92