THE drought is over for GlobalPort as it regained its form in a 97-89 victory over Meralco in the 2017 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup last night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Star Terrence Romeo again showed the way for the Batang Pier, scoring a game-high 27 points, to go with five rebounds and five assists for a complete performance.
He got much help from Nino Canaleta, who added 13 markers, and Billy Mamaril and Mike Cortez, who each had 12 points and JR Quinahan, who hit 11.
This much-needed win climbed GlobalPort, loser of two straight and three of its last four games prior to this, back to the upper half of the standings with a 4-3 slate.
On the other hand, the slide continued for Meralco with its 2-5 record for 10th place after this fourth straight setback.
GlobalPort had a quick head-start, establishing a 26-19 lead at the end of the first canto.
It then built on that in the second period, where it widened its lead to 16 points, 40-24, after a Cortez triple at the 7:41 mark of the period as the squad gained firm control.
By halftime, the Batang Pier kept their double-digit lead, 51-41.
Meralco bounced back, taking the third quarter, 30-21, to climb back and make it anyone’s game entering the fourth, with GlobalPort’s lead only down to a solitary point, 72-71.
While the Bolts remained within striking distance, the Batang Pier, this time around, were able to stand their ground, keeping their lead until the final horn sounded despite the serious threat it dodged in the second half.
Reynel Hugnatan led Meralco with his team-high 23 points.
For today, there’s also a scheduled out-of-town game as second-running TNT KaTropa (4-2) and cellar-dweller NLEX (1-5), which is on a five-game losing streak, travel to Angeles City in Pampanga for their 5 p.m. tussle there.
The scores:
GLOBALPORT 97—Romeo 27, Canaleta 13, Mamaril 12, Cortez 12, Quinahan 11, Pringle 9, Aban 9, Mierhofer 2, Paredes 2, Banal 0, Urbiztondo 0, Pessumal 0.
MERALCO 89—Hugnatan 23, Grey 18, Newsome 16, Hodge 12, Daquioag 12, Buenafe 3, Faundo 2, Caram 2, Amer 1, Uyloan 0, Nabong 0, Ferriols 0.
Quarters: 26-19, 51-41, 72-71, 97-89