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GlobalPort Batang Pier 117
VS
Alaska Aces 104
FINAL
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Recap

GLOBALPORT GRABS LAST TWICE-TO-BEAT EDGE IN QFs

Famous 062315 vs ala

GLOBALPORT would not let a golden chance slip away and Jarrid Famous typified that resolve.

Famous notched 34 points and 26 rebounds in leading the Batang Pier to a 117-104 overtime victory over Alaska Tuesday and into the last top four spot in the PBA Governors Cup’s ensuing quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Famous sparked GlobalPort’s big third quarter before joining Stanley Pringle and Omar Krayem in carrying the team home and on to its best-ever finish in the eliminations since joining the league in 2012.

The victory, its seventh in 11 games, put GlobalPort just behind Alaska, San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine as the teams which will enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against those from the lower half of the eight qualifiers in the next round.

It is one unfamiliar territory for the Batang Pier, who have finished no higher than fifth in their first eight conferences with the league, but one head coach Pido Jarencio is all too willing to explore.

“We took the twice-to-beat. Talagang ginusto ng mga bata. Para sa fans at sa management itong win na ito,” said Jarencio. “At least twice-to-beat. Kahit matalo man, may isa pa.”

As things stand, Star, which was playing Blackwater later in the evening, could be GlobalPort’s quarterfinals foe, but Jarencio just took that possibility in stride.

“Defending champion ‘yung Star. Underdog kami, mas experienced kalaban namin,” noted Jarencio. “Sa elims tinalo namin ‘yung Star. Iyun ‘yung motivation sa team, na p’wede palang talunin ‘yung Star. Tingnan natin kung p’wedeng maka-tsamba sa kanya (Star coach Tim Cone).”

The loss, its third against eight wins, hardly mattered for Alaska as it wound up tied with SMB but still emerged the eliminations topnotcher by virtue of its 82-77 victory over the Beermen last Saturday in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

As if preparing for the quarterfinals, Aces head coach Alex Compton tried out different combinations on the floor and even went to the extent of benching import Romeo Travis in the entire second half and overtime.

That was an opening GlobalPort readily pounced on.

“We took that advantage, na nag-all Filipino lang sila, di pinalaro si Travis ng second half,” said Jarencio.

It still took a lot of doing as the likes of Cyrus Baguio, Chris Banchero and Eric Menk kept Alaska in the thick of the fight.

There was simply too much of Famous as the 6-foot-10 import laced his performance with five more points in the extension, the last two giving GlobalPort a 107-100 spread.

Before that, Famous scattered 16 of his points in the third period as GlobalPort outscored Alaska 34-18 and set up a gripping fourth quarter that saw a seesawing duel and two deadlocks.

In the last two minutes of OT, it was all Terrence Romeo. After riding the bench since 7:49 of the third period due to the sterling games of Pringle and Krayem, Romeo took over with 10 of his 14 points on two triples and as many drives to put the game to bed.

“Kay Stanley tayo ng regulation. Pagdating ng overtime binunot namin si Terrence. Nag-contribute naman lahat,” said Jarencio.

Pringle finished with a personal conference-high 24 points to go with eight assists and seven rebounds while Krayem added 20 points. Doug Kramer also played a key role in OT as his three-point play gave him eight points for the game and GlobalPort the upper hand for good 102-100.

Baguio wound up with 20 to pace Alaska with Travis adding 13 points and 10 rebounds and Banchero and Menk 10 markers apiece.

Both teams had a chance to win in regulation, but Rome dela Rosa got called for an offensive foul against Ronjay Buenafe while Pringle, whose charities pegged a 96-all count, saw his 12-foot jumper rim out just before the buzzer.

Menk’s left-handed jump hook against a Famous charity gave Alaska a 100-99 edge, but that would prove to be the Aces’ last gasp. (NC)

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 117 – Famous 34, Pringle 24, Krayem 20, Romeo 14, Jensen 11, Kramer 8, Mamaril 2, Isip 2, Miranda 2, Hayes 0, Semerad 0, Buenafe 0.

ALASKA 104 – Baguio 20, Travis 13, Banchero 10, Menk 10, Abueva 8, Jazul 8, Manuel 6, Dela Cruz 5, Casio 5, Thoss 4, Baclao 4, Dela Rosa 4, Exciminiano 4, Hontiveros 2, Eman 1.

Quarterscores: 16-26, 40-49, 74-67, 98-98, 117-104

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