2015-16 PH Cup Playoff Preview: GlobalPort Batang Pier vs Barako Bull Energy

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GlobalPort and Barako Bull aren’t exactly top of mind when it comes to PBA title contenders, but both teams have certainly turned a lot of heads and have had their moments in the spotlight this season so far. GlobalPort has been consistently among the top 4 teams in the league before slipping to 5th spot after losing to TNT recently. Barako Bull, meanwhile, has been extremely competitive and has been able to upset higher seeds like Ginebraand TNT. 

GlobalPort was riding high on a 4-game winning run entering its last elims game against TNT, but they just had no  answer for Jayson Castro, who burned them for 25 points. In this game, GlobalPort will have to contend with the likes of Willie Wilson, JC Intal, and Josh Urbiztondo, all of whom are explosive scorers. Needless to say, GlobalPort will need to tighten up on D and play smart for them to clear this hurdle.

Despite some landmark wins and awesome play from their veterans, the Energy haven’t really been able to string back-to-back wins this conference. That’s exactly what they’ll need to do here, though, as they battle the explosive Batang Pier. They will need to find a way to stop the dynamic duo of Pringle and Romeo while at the same time hope their big guns catch fire — for two straight games! Now that’s a tall order!

1. THE DYNAMIC DUO: PRINGLE + ROMEO

– Without a doubt, the GlobalPort’s engine is powered by the dynamic duo of Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo. GlobalPort has the distinction of being the only team with two guys scoring 20+ points per game. It’ll be interesting to see how these two are able to play in this context, and if they can really be clutch enough to lead their team deep into the KO rounds. 

Last game Pringle: 24pts, 3rebs, 3asts, 6 triples, 9/17 FGs

Last game Romeo: 24pts, 2rebs, 4asts 1stl, 5 triples, 9/15 FGs

Pringle stats: 21.3ppg, 7.5rpg, 4.5apg, 2.5 triples per game, 48.2 3pt%, 53.0 FG%

Romeo stats: 23.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 2.8apg, 2.9 triples per game, 32.0 3pt%, 39.9 FG%

Last game vs GlobalPort combined: 40pts, 20rebs, 10asts, 2stls, 3 triples, 13/33 FGs

2. CAN KRAMER COME THROUGH?

– Doug Kramer is maybe the biggest x-factor for GlobalPort. He is the team’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder. He is also arguably the club’s #1 low post option. He will definitely be expected to play well in this game/series, especially sin BAR doesn’t really boast of a gigantic frontcourt. Kramer had a near-double-double in GlobalPort’s win over Barako Bull earlier this season, and it will interesting to see if he can come through again.

Last Game: 6pts, 9rebs, 1ast, 2/4 FGs

Stats: 9.7ppg, 9.5rpg, 55.7 FG%

Last game vs BAR: 16pts, 9rebs, 2asts, 1stl, 6/8 FGs

3. GlobalPort: ARE THEY TOUGH ENOUGH?

– The Batang Pier have been a very explosive bunch this season so far, but will they finally be tough enough now that that they have clinched a twice to beat edge AGAIN in the playoffs? They were also in a similar position in the 2015 GOVS CUP. In that tournament, GLO was seeded #4 and played #5 STA in the quarterfinals. The Batang Pier were soundly defeated, 126-73 and 101-94, to get eliminated. They are surely hoping history will not repeat itself.

GLO ppg – 101.6ppg (#2)

GLO ppg allowed – 102.1ppg (worst)

GLO 3pts made per game – 9.5 per game (#1)

GLO rebs – 52.8rpg (#1)

GLO 2nd chance pts – 13.6ppg (#2)

“Going to the playoffs, kailangan matibay yung team,” Jarencio told sportswriters after their win over MAH in OT. 

“Itong team naman namin nagbibigayan, nagtutulungan kaya maganda yung takbo. Nagkakakumpyansa sila kasi nagbibigayan nga yung mga players.” (InterAksyon)

4. WILLIE’S WAR

– If someone can win the Most Improved Player award this early, it should definitely be Wilson, who has been registering all-star level production. He has had six double-doubles so far, and has just been awesome for Barako Bull. If GlobalPort has a dynamic duo in the backcourt, Barako Bull has a dynamic duo with their forwards (Wilson & Intal). Surely, Wilson will have to carry Barako Bull on his burly shoulders for them to stay alive this conference.

Last game: 23pts, 14rebs, 4asts, 8/20 FGs

Stats: 17.7ppg, 12.0rpg, 2.8apg, 52.6 FG%

Last game vs GlobalPort: 14pts, 7rebs, 2asts, 4/9 FGs

5. JC INTAL: READY FOR LAUNCH

– After his maiden stint with Gilas this past offseason, Intal has really seemed more potent. He is currentls putting up career-highs in scoring, rebounding, and assists, and is a huge reason BAR has been able to make it this far. He will need to really play well here, though, as BAR needs to badly keep in-step with GlobalPort’s high octane offense. 

Last game: 15pts, 9rebs, 1ast, 1stl, 2blks, 4 triples.

Stats: 13.2ppg, 6.5rpg, 2.1apg, 1.5 triples per game, 34.7 FG%

Last game vs GlobalPort: 17pts, 5rebs, 3asts, 2 triples, 6/18 FGs

6. Barako Bull: OLDIES BUT GOODIES

– Barako Bull has always had the image of being a repository of veteran players or “over the hump” cagers from other teams. That’s why many people don’t really have high hopes for them. These veterans have been able to defy those odds, though, and they’ve been the driving force behind the Energy’s competitive fire this season so far. Needless to say, these oldies but goodies will need to muster more of that veteran magic to upend the younger GLO squad.

Barako Bull’s top veterans (aside from Wilson & Intal):

Josh Urbiztondo – 12.1ppg, 1.8rpg, 1.6apg, 2.6 triples per game, 43.3 3pt%, 40.6 FG%

Mick Pennisi – 7.7ppg, 5.5rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0bpg, 2.3 triples per game, 40.3 3pt%

Chico Lanete – 6.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, 1.0spg, 29.3 FG%

“As veterans, JC (Intal), myself, Mick (Pennisi) and Willie (Wilson), we all got together. But we’ve been through this before.” Urbiztondo said after their win against Star, 101-83.

7. KEY MATCH-UP: JAY WASHINGTON X WILLIE WILSON

– Of these two, J-Wash has had the more decorated career, but Wilson is the one who is currently playing much better. They have relatively contrasting skill-sets, too. Washington loves to stretch the D with his perimeter game, while Wilson likes to bully his way around the hole. Both are integral to their respective teams’ success, though. Wilson has the edge here, but Barako Bull cannot afford to overlook Washington, especially since he needs a good bounce back game after a bad outing against TNT.

Last game Washington: 2pts, 2rebs, 1stl, 1blk, 1/6 FGs

Last game Wilson: 23pts, 14rebs, 4asts, 8/20 FGs

Washington Stats: 9.4ppg, 7.7rpg, 1.4apg, 1.2spg, 1.1bpg, 1.0 trple per game, 37.4 FG%

Wilson Stats: 17.7ppg, 12.0rpg, 2.8apg, 52.6 FG%

8. LAST MEETING: GlobalPort beat Barako Bull, 105-91

– GlobalPort got the jump on BAR here before the Energy rallied to lead in the 2nd half. Overtime was forced, and the Batang Pier completely dominated in that period, outscoring BAR, 20-6. Pringle was splendid in this game with a 19pt, 17reb double-double. GlobalPort also grossly out-rebounded Barako Bull, 65-37, which offset the fact the Batang Pier had 20 turnovers to just 13 for BAR. 

Key stats:

Rebounds: GlobalPort 65, Barako Bull 37

Assists: GlobalPort 22, Barako Bull 16

Turnovers: GlobalPort 20, Barako Bull 13

Best Performers: 

Pringle (GlobalPort) – 19pts, 17rebs, 6asts, 2stls

Romeo (GlobalPort) – 21pts, 3rebs, 4asts

Intal (Barako Bull) – 17pts, 5rebs, 3asts, 2tripls

 

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TAGS: 2016 Philippine Cup, Barako Bull Energy, Globalport Batang Pier, pba, quarterfinals

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