FAMOUS’ MONSTER EFFORT LEADS GLOBALPORT PAST KIA
GLOBALPORT head coach Pido Jarencio has a ready explanation why he chose Jarrid Famous over former Barangay Ginebra import Vernon Macklin.
“Mas sanay si Famous sa larong PBA at saka mas proven scorer siya,” said Jarencio.
Famous just gave Jarencio a better reason after monster game of 30 points and 37 rebounds, lifting the Batang Pier to a 102-94 victory over Kia Sunday that moved the former to a cherished goal in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Terrence Romeo added 27 points and the rest of GlobalPort’s players did their part as the team improved its win-loss slate to 6-4, good for fourth-running spot.
The Batang Pier wind up their eliminations assignments against Alaska next Tuesday, needing another win to ensure their inclusion among the eight teams making it through to the quarterfinals.
A 7-4 card would not even extend the Mike Romero-owned franchise’s best-ever start but could even be enough for a top four slot and a win-once advantage in the next round. Jarencio said that is his team’s immediate objective.
“Ang mga players gusto talagang manalo for the twice-to-beat advantage kaya ibigay natin sa mga players itong panalong ito,” said Jarencio.
Hamady N’Diaye notched PBA career-best 29 points, 13 rebounds and six blocked shots and Karl Dehesa and Joshua Webb came up with new career highs with 20 and 15 markers, respectively, yet Kia still failed to follow up its 71-68 toppling of erstwhile leader Barako Bull last Wednesday.
With an even 4-4 slate, the Carnival need to win their last three games against Rain or Shine, Talk ‘N Text and Meralco to insure entry in the quarterfinals.
Jarencio is just glad his team came up with a nice follow-up to its 108-80 win over NLEX only two days before, the kind of schedule GlobalPort would go through once it advances.
“Galing sa hard game nu’ng Friday, tapos one day preparation lang, parang walk-through nga lang (in practice),” said Jarencio. “Di pa rin sanay na dalawang sunod na laro. Maganda na rin, kasi going to the playoffs halos sunod-sunod laro.”
Famous wound up with the most single-game rebounds in 30 years, or since Ginebra’s Michael Hackett collared 45 vs. Great Taste in the 1985 Third Conference, and thus gave GlobalPort a 68-40 advantage off the boards.
Such yeoman-like efforts made Jarencio overlook Famous’ 11 turnovers, which tied the third all-time most record among imports.
“P’wede na talagang patawarin iyung mga turnovers niya dahil nga his rebounds gave us extra possessions while denying iyung kalaban,” said Jarencio.
Romeo, meanwhile, was taking care of the offensive end, especially during the fourth quarter where he scattered 13 of his points although it was Doug Kramer’s layup off a nifty assist by Stanley Pringle that gave GlobalPort its biggest lead at 94-79, 4:18 to go.
Dehesa’s fourth triple of the game brought Kia within 94-99, but Romeo’s three free throws off a foul by Virgil Buensuceso sealed it for GlobalPort, only 11.1 ticks left. (NC)
The scores:
GLOBALPORT 102 – Famous 30, Romeo 27, Pringle 10, Buenafe 9, Kramer 9, Krayem 7, Semerad 5, Mamaril 3, Miranda 2, Hayes 0, Isip 0, Jensen 0.
KIA 94 – N’Diaye 29, Dehesa 20, Webb 15, Chang 11, Bagtasing 8, Revilla 6, Buensuceso 3, Deutchman 1, Nuyles 1, Thiele 0, Ighalo 0, Alvarez 0, Avenido 0.
Quarterscores: 27-29, 50-47, 76-71, 102-94
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