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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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04
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26
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
04
26
2024
PBA IMAGES
GlobalPort plunges back in action after a nine-day breather, looking to get back atop the heap in a tie with reigning champ San Miguel Beer as the Batang Pier tangle with the dangerous Blackwater team in the
PBA Philippine Cup at the FilOil Flying V Center in San Juan Wednesday.
The Batang Pier chase a fourth win in five outings as they set out for the 7 p.m. setto versus a Blackwater side that, on the other hand, seeks solo second place at 4-2.
Terrence Romeo and his teammates play their first game in 10 days or since fending off a fiery Barangay Ginebra rally for a 91-84 win on Dec. 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“It would’ve been brutal days of hard practices had we lost the game,” said GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren after they survived the Gin Kings’ chase from 18 points down.
GlobalPort earlier strung up two wins versus Mahindra (97-75) and Star (91-84) before suffering its lone defeat at the hands of Alaska Milk (84-95).
Blackwater is in a heavy five-way tie at second place with elite teams Alaska, Rain or Shine, Star and TNT KaTropa following victories over Phoenix, Meralco and NLEX, and losses to TNT and ROS.
The Elite are back on the winning track as they crushed the Road Warriors, 96-85, the last time out to check a two-game slide.
Against NLEX, coach Leo Isaac said his team played with a semblance of team organization unlike in their two previous outings.
“There were situations where players would want to play on their own, not committing to our offensive rules. Okay sana if they produce, pero hindi yun ang nangyayari. Tantrums erupted among players, and we have to correct that,” said Isaac.
“We have to remind our players that one player can’t win for the whole team,” Isaac also said.
Needless to say, the Elite have to be organized and play as a team as they’re likely to face an uphill battle against the much-improved GlobalPort team.
Romeo, Stanley Pringle, JR Quinahan and KG Canaleta are the GlobalPort forces Blackwater has to stop.
As a lethal backcourt duo, Romeo averages a whopping 27 points (league best) per game while Pringle makes 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals an outing.
Meanwhile, Mac Belo, Art dela Cruz and Kyle Pascual are the men to watch out for among the Elite.
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