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GlobalPort Batang Pier 98
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Mahindra Enforcers 108
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Mahindra off to blazing 2-0 start of trumping GlobalPort

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MAHINDRA has just scaled a new plateau in its young PBA existence and now looks all primed to reach new heights.

The Enforcer overcame an undermanned but gritty GlobalPort crew 108-98 Wednesday for its second win in as many games and grabbed share of the early lead in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

James White notched 28 points and 20 rebounds while his supporting cast shared the stellar role in a fiery windup that totally lifted Mahindra out of what was a tight contest and into a follow up to its 100-92 overtime upset of Star last Friday.

It marked the first time since it joined the PBA prior to the 2014-15 season as the Kia Sorento that the Enforcer have opened up a conference with a 2-0 slate and Chris Gavina, named as chief assistant to playing coach Manny Pacquiao before the tourney, said credit belongs to his players.

“I wanna deflect all the effort to my guys,” said the Philippine-born but New Jersey-raised Gavina. “We withstood a very strong GlobalPort team. We played with great heart today.”

Falling to a 0-2 slate and joining idle Phoenix at the cellar is GlobalPort, which put up a gallant stand despite the absence of some key players, led by star guard Terrence Romeo, before fading in the stretch that mattered most.

Romeo, who scored 15 points as a reliever in an 81-93 loss to Ginebra last Saturday, was suffering from stomach flu while Joseph Yeo was nursing a sprained left ankle and joined Jay Washington (calf) and Rico Maierhofer (knee) in the sidelines.

Even Stanley Pringle was also suffering from a bum stomach, but suited up along with Billy Mamaril, who missed the Ginebra game also because of some calf muscle issues.

“Globalport’s thin right now,” noted Gavina. “They have a lot on their injured list.”

Dominique Sutton tried to make up with 34 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists with Pringle adding 19
markers and new acquisition Karl Dehesa waxing hot in the second half to finish with 13.

Sutton’s hook shot even brought GlobalPort within 92-94, still 3:20 left, before Mahindra’s unrelenting pressure finally took its toll on the Batang Pier, who committed four turnovers in their next five possessions.

On the Enforcer’s end, White scored on a finger roll, Keith Agovida translated his own steal into a layup, Iman Mashaddy and Aldrech Ramos each boomed in a triple and White canned two charities to jack their lead back to an unassailable 106-92, only 73 seconds left.

“Our guys just wanted it more,” said Gavina. “Before the game, in our Viber group, I sent out a message that read: ‘The difference between good teams and great teams is heart,’ to quote Michael Jordan.
“Our team showed great heart today.”

The scores:
MAHINDRA 108 – White 28, Ramos 16, Revilla 11, Taha 10, Agovida 8, Pinto 8, Canaleta 7, Zandi 7, Guinto 5, Aguilar 2, Bagatsing 2, Ballesteros 2, Yee 2, Digregorio 0, Elorde 0, Jaime 0.
GLOBALPORT 98 – Sutton 34, Pringle 19, Dehesa 13, Fortuna 9, Semerad 9, Banal 6, Isip 3, Kramer 2, Mamaril 2, Taha 1, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 45-43, 70-69, 108-98

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