Batang Pier shock Bolts; Painters score
VETERANS Sol Mercado and Jay Washington combined for 60 points as Globalport upset Meralco, 93-89, last night in the PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Mercado tossed in 33 points and Washington had 27 as Globalport won just for the second time and tied Meralco at 2-3.
The Bolts stunningly went down just days after conquering the souped-up Barangay Ginebra squad.
“It was good that we were able to execute defensively,” Globalport coach Richie Ticzon said. “Everyone responded very well to our two losses. The boys played their hearts out. It was all about effort and commitment to our team.”
Paul Lee did most of everything for Rain or Shine in the stretch later in the night, keying an 86-83 nipping of San Mig Coffee that gave the Elasto Painters their fourth win in five games.
The loss was the fourth also in five games for the Mixers, who are just a game better than the cellar-dwelling Air21 Express.
Lee sealed his career game with a free throw with three seconds remaining for what turned out to be the final score as the Rookie of the Year two seasons ago saved the Elasto Painters from collapsing in the stretch.
Lee finished with 26 points, highlighting it with crucial back-to-back treys down the stretch that held off the Mixers.
RR Garcia, the sixth overall pick in the Rookie Draft behind Terrence Romeo, also shone for the the Batang Pier, firing two triples when the game was on the line.
Garcia’s second three-pointer gave Globalport a decisive 87-82 lead heading into the final 65 seconds of the tightly fought encounter.
The 5-foot-10 former UAAP MVP with Far Eastern University also hit a free throw with 9.9 seconds left that put the game beyond reach for the Bolts, 91-87.
“Everybody knows that he (Garcia) has it (a good offensive game),” Ticzon said. “That’s why he’s in the endgame. And it’s good for us that he knocked them (triples in the fourth) down.”
Meanwhile, Petron Blaze shoots for a fifth successive victory today when the tournament-leading Boosters battle Alaska in the Petron Saturday Special at the Big Dome in Cubao.
Tip-off is at 5:45 p.m. Barako Bull battles Air21 at 3:30 p.m.
The scores:
First Game
GLOBALPORT 93—Mercado 33, Washington 27, Garcia 12, Lingganay 6, Hayes 4, Romeo 4, Salvador 4, Yee 3, Menk 0, Nabong 0, Chua 0, Belencion 0, Salva 0.
MERALCO 89—David 18, Cortez 18, Salvacion 15, Dillinger 13, Wilson 11, Al-Hussaini 7, Allado 7, Caram 0, Sena 0, Guevarra 0.
Quarters: 21-22, 37-46, 66-64, 93-89
Second Game
RAIN OR SHINE 86—Lee 26, Chan 11, Arana 7, Tang 6, Teng 6, Norwood 6, Cruz 5, Rodriguez 5, Quinahan 4, Belga 2, Almazan 2, Tiu 2, Nuyles 2, Ibanes 2.
SAN MIG COFFEE 83—Barroca 23, Simon 18, Pingris 12, Devance 11, Sangalang 8, Reavis 7, Mallari 4, Acuna 0, Gaco 0, Cawaling 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 38-34, 62-59, 86-83
