[PBA PH CUP] Pringle-led GlobalPort dispatches Barako Bull

This time, there were no breakdowns.

GlobalPort, banking on the brillant quarterbacking of top rookie Stanley Pringle, made sure that no fourth-quarter meltdowns will occur, en route to a resounding 91-81 win during the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup.

Pringle, the first overall pick in the 2014 PBA Draft, showed everyone why he is the top rookie, compiling 19 points, 8 rebounds, four on the offensive end, and two assists. Alex Cabagnot led the Batang Pier with a near double-double of 21 points and nine boards, along with four assists. Yancy de Ocampo and Mark Isip, two newly acquired big men for the team, also contributed fairly, scoring 12 markers apiece.

With this win, Pido Jarencio of the Batang Pier may have another lease on his coaching life, after dropping a 101-96 heartbreaker against the NLEX Road Warriors, despite leading after the end of three quarters.

Meanwhile, Barako Bull falls to the cellar, after similarly losing a double-overtime contest against Meralco, 112-108, in their opening game. Burly guard Denok Miranda led the charge for the Energy with 16 points, while RR Garcia, who was with GlobalPort two conferences ago, and Dave Marcelo both had 12 points. (GS)

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 91 – Cabagnot 21, Pringle 19, Isip 12, De Ocampo 12, Romeo 9, Jensen 7, Bacalao 6, Semerad 5, Taha 0, Buenafe 0, Duncil 0, Ponferada 0, Nabong 0.

BARAKO BULL 81 – Miranda 16, Garcia 12, Marcelo 12, Fortuna 10, Intal 8, Lastimosa 6, Salva 5, Pascual 5, Lanete 5, Wilson 2, Salvador 0, Paredes 0, Pennisi 0.

Quarterscores: 25-21, 48-47, 74-67, 91-81

Talk n' Text holds off Alaska; Meralco halts Air21 in overtime thrillers

Saturday night was a great night for PBA patrons, as they witnessed not one, but two overtime matches between four different teams.

Talk n' Text holds off Alaska

 

Gilas stalwarts Ranidel de Ocampo and Jimmy Alapag held their own for the Tropang Texters as the two guys hit crucial shots to give their team a 121-117 victory over the Aces.

De Ocampo hit a wide-open triple that bounced on the front rim before fatefully dropping in the basket to give Talk n' Text a 119-115 lead with 35.6 seconds to go.

Veteran big man Sonny Thoss managed a basket underneath after a rebound battle, a glimpse of his career-high 30 points, to cut the lead to two points.

But two free throws for Alapag off a JV Casio foul, and a missed desperation heave for rookie Chris Exciminiano, sealed the deal for the Tropang Texters, who nailed its seventh win in ten games.

De Ocampo and Alapag had huge help from their teammates, as de Ocampo was one of the six players in double figures, highlighted by a double-double performance from another former Gilas member in Kelly Williams, who tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds. 

Alaska falls to a precarious 4-7 slate, narrowing their chances for a playoff finish. Talk n' Text, meanwhile, goes up to a 7-3 record to tie with Rain or Shine.

Meralco halts Air21

 

Gary David, the reigning PBA scoring champ, once again showed his prowess when it comes to getting points on the board.

David poured 34 big points on 13-of-26 shooting and 4-of-7 from long distance, while returning veteran Danny Ildefonso had 14 points to go with 6 rebounds and 5 assists to lead Meralco to a thrilling 92-88 victory against Air21.

Air21 was on Meralco's coat tails from the tip-off, and until the regulation buzzer, when KG Canaleta, the three-point king, buried a tough baseline triple contested by Ildefonso to send the game to an extra five minutes.

It was a neck-and-neck match in overtime, with neither team backing down. But "El Granada", as he is famously known, nailed back-to-back jumpers for a 87-84 count heading to the final minute.

A Reynel Hugnatan short stab and Ildefonso's free throw countered two shots by Asi Taulava late in the game to seal the Bolt's fourth win in 11 games.

The win spoiled a great game for Canaleta, who finished with 32 markers on 11-of-23 shooting, and a conference-high 26 boards for Taulava to complement his 15 points.

Air21 falls deeper in the cellar with a 2-9 slate, while Meralco ends up at 4-7 after the game to tie Alaska and Barako. (GS)

The scores: 

First game 

Talk 'N Text 121 – Williams 18, Reyes 17, De Ocampo 16, Castro 16, Fonacier 14, Anthony 13, Seigle 9, Carey 8, Alapag 5, Reyes J. 3, Baclao 2.

Alaska 117 – Thoss 30, Jazul 18, Espinas 18, Baguio 17, Casio 11, Abueva 9, Ramos 7, Eximiniano 3, Dela Cruz 2, Eman 2, Hontiveros 0.

Quarterscores: 26-26; 48-40; 83-80; 108-108; 121-117

Second game

The scores:

Meralco 98 – David 34, Ildefonso 14, Wilson 13, Hugnatan 9, Dillinger 8, Salvacion 5, Guevarra 5, Hodge 4, Timberlake 0, Al-Hussaini 0, Artadi 0.

Air21 88 – Canaleta 32, Taulava 15, Yeo 10, Manuel 8, Vardona 7, Sharma 6, Camson 4, Matias 2, Arboleda 2, Ritualo 2, Jaime 0, Menor 0, Custodio 0.

Quarterscores:  21-15; 38-31; 56-56; 79-79; 92-88.

GlobalPort matches highest win total with rout of Alaska

Cyrus Baguio (right) tries to block the lay-up of Terrence Romeo

Sol Mercado had 26 points, while Romeo finally broke out of his shooting slump to have 21 points to power GlobalPort over Alaska ,94-84, to have a three-game winning streak in the 2013 PLDT-myDSL PBA Philippine Cup.

Their win total, four, matches their highest win total in franchise history, where they set a 4-5 record, en route to their first playoff appearance, where they were eliminated by Rain or Shine.

Romeo had his mindset on shooting, as he torched the Aces with 13 points in the first quarter. The first canto ended, 28-20, with the Batang Pier ahead by eight.

With the Alaska defense now collapsing on the 2013 UAAP MVP, it was Mercado's turn to catch fire. The Biola University product exploded for 16 points in the second quarter to lead by as much as 21 in the period. The first half ended, 55-35, with GlobalPort sitting comfortably on a 20-point cushion.

The Batang Pier took care of their lead, and they mercilessly turned down any effort of the Aces for a comeback. The former never led by single digits in the second half, save for a RJ Jazul triple that brought the Aces to within eight, 92-84, with 20.9 ticks left in the clock.

Jay Washington and RR Garcia contributed thirteen points apiece for GlobalPort, while Mark Yee added ten points for good measure.

Jayvee Casio led the charge for Alaska with 28 points, but back-court partner Cyrus Baguio still struggled for eight points. Gabby Espinas and Jazul had 13 and 10, respectively. Alaska also missed the services of scrappy forward Calvin Abueva, who suffered a sprain in one Alaska practice. (GS)

The scores:

GlobalPort 94 – Mercado 26, Romeo 21, Washington 13, Garcia 13, Yee 10, Chua 3, Hayes 3, Lingganay 2, Nabong 2, Menk 1, Salva 0, Salvador 0.

Alaska 84 – Casio 28, Thoss 13, Jazul 10, Espinas 9, Baguio 8, Ramos 7, Exciminano 6, Buenafe 3, Belasco 0, Dela Cruz 0, Hontiveros 0, Eman 0.

Quarterscores: 27-20, 55-35, 77-58, 94-84.

GlobalPort exacts revenge on Rain or Shine for 3rd win

Raymond Almazan (right) challenges the shot of Jay Washington.

Photo courtesy of Nuki Sabio

Last year, GlobalPort was very close to forcing a rubber match for a semifinals berth. Leading after 36 minutes, everyone was expecting a do-or-die match pitting GlobalPort against Rain or Shine. But Junel Baculi's ejection, and the eventual defeat of his team, started a series of events that ended with interim coach Richie Ticzon replacing him at the helm.

This time, though it is a game in the eliminations, GlobalPort avenged its setback.

Despite squandering a 14-point cushion near the end, the Batang Pier held on to win over Rain or Shine, 90-88, in the continuation of the 2013 PBA PLDT-myDSL PBA Philippine Cup.

After ending the 1st half, 36-35, GlobalPort clamped down on the defensive end, making key stops and effectively setting up their teammates. In particular, Marvin Hayes, Mark Yee, Kelly Nabong and Rudy Lingganay were the ones responsible for defending their match-ups, Hayes and Yee taking turns in guarding shooting specialist Jeffrei Chan. The third quarter ended with a ten-point deficit for the Painters, 60-70.

However, the tables turned on GlobalPort as Paul Lee provided the spark for Rain or Shine. The 2012 Rookie of the Year poured 13 of his 20 points in the successful effort to erase the lead of the Batang Pier. A triple by the man dubbed as the "Angas ng Tondo" tied the game at 87-all with less than 180 seconds left.

Sol Mercado responded by driving hard to the basket, which resulted to a trip to the foul line. However, Mercado split his charities to shove GlobalPort ahead, 88-87.

A failed offensive thrust by the E-Painters resulted to Mercado dishing out a pass to rookie Justin Chua. Chua did not fail Mercado, and hit the baseline jay to push the lead to three, 90-87.

Beau Belga muscled his way to the paint to get fouled by Chua. Belga split his freethrows to cut the deficit to two, 90-88.

A challenged shot by Lee following a missed triple by Mercado over Belga resulted in GlobalPort having a chance to easily get away with the win. But Belga held his ground against Jay Washington and blocked the latter's shot to give Rain or Shine a decent shot at stealing the game from GlobalPort.

Coach Yeng Guiao drew up a play that supposedly would give Lee or Chan a wide-open shot from long distance. But the E-Painters were not able to execute properly, a missed shot by Lee gave Rain or Shine their second loss in six games.

Mercado and Washington had 20 points apiece, with Mercado dishing seven dimes and Washington grabbing 13 boards. Rookies Chua and RR Garcia added 12 and 13, respectively. Terrence Romeo still struggled with a solitary point, but gave four assists to contribute fairly.

JR Quinahan had 14 markers and added eight rebounds for good measure. (GS)

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 90 – Washington 20, Mercado 20, Garcia 13, Chua 12, Nabing 8, Yee 5, Lingganay 5, Hayes 4, Salvador 2, Romeo 1, Menk 0, Belencion 0.

RAIN OR SHINE 88 – Lee 20, Quinahan 14, Norwood 11, Belga 10, Cruz 9, Chan 8, Arana 7, Teng 4, Nuyles 3, Tiu 2, Almazan 0, Ibanes 0, Rodriguez 0.

Quarterscores: 18-22, 36-35, 70-60, 90-88.