Globalport is slowly but surely getting used to playing with Calvin Warner as import.
Warner scored 17 points and grabbed 30 rebounds as the Batang Pier won their second straight game with a 101-78 rout of the Blackwater Elite yesterday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel spoiled the return of Denzel Bowles to Purefoods Star after the Kings survived the Hotshots, 96-87.
Bowles, who led Purefoods to a championship several years ago, was recalled from China to replace Daniel Orton, who was slapped a P250,000 fine for statements detrimental to the PBA and Kia Motors player-coach and 8-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.
Purefoods eventually sent Orton packing.
Back-up point guard Chris Monfort and team captain Mark Caguioa keyed a strong Ginebra stand in the fourth quarter after Purefoods came threateningly close from a double-digit deficit behind back-to-back 3-pointers by Joe Devance.
It was a record-setting afternoon for both Warner and the Batang Pier as far as rebounding is concerned.
The 6-foot-6 reinforcement set a franchise record for most rebounds in a game, breaking the 28-rebound output of Evan Brock during last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, while Globalport hauled down 74 boards as a team, four more than the old record of 70 during a game against San Mig Super Coffee (now-Purefoods Star) in the Philippine Cup the previous year.
Warner also highlighted his strong showing with two rim-rattling dunks, including a follow-up reverse slam that gave the Batang Pier a 90-63 lead with 7:38 to play.
Terrence Romeo topscored with 25 points as Globalport improved to 4-3 this conference. The Batang Pier are 2-1 since Warner came in to replace CJ Leslie.
“Until now kinikilala ko pa rin siya e, sa totoo lang di ko pa rin sya gaano kilala” Globalport’s interim mentor Eric Gonzales said. “Ang alam ko strictly inside lang sya (but) alam ko na may maturity sya, may maitutulong sa team.”
Globalport used a key second quarter in which it outscored Blackwater, 29-17, turning a slim 21-20 lead into a commanding 50-37 advantage at the half.
Ronjay Buenafe came off the bench to score 15 points, including a left-handed slam late in the third to launch an aerial show by Globalport that ended with Warner’s dunks.
Blackwater dropped to 1-5 despite 19 points and 17 rebounds from naturalized center Marcus Douthit. Rookie guard Brian Heruela contributed 17 points.
Scores:
GLOBALPORT 101 – Romeo 25, Warner 17, Buenafe 15, Pringle 10, Isip 9, Ponferada 8, Taha 6, Miranda 4, Caperal 4, Semerad 3, Pinto 0, Baclao 0, Jensen 0, De Ocampo 0.
BLACKWATER 78 – Douthit 19, Heruela 17, Gamalinda 9, Reyes 7, Celiz 6, Bulawan 6, Acuna 6, Faundo 4, Canada 2, Salvacion 2, Timberlake 0, Nuyles 0, Erram 0, Ballesteros 0, Laure 0.
Quarters: 21-20; 50-37; 74-56; 101-78.
Second Game:
GINEBRA 96 – Dunigan 22, Slaughter 19, Tenorio 16, Aguilar 10, Baracael 10, Monfort 9, Caguioa 7, Yeo 3, Ababou 0.
PUREFOODS 87 – Bowles 31, Simon 14, Barroca 14, Devance 14, Mallari 6, Pingris 6, Taha 2, Melton 0, Reavis 0, Pennisi 0.
Quarterscores: 20-16, 45-38, 70-56, 96-87