GlobalPort anchors down on Ginebra, solidifies playoff hopes

Alex Cabagnot of Globalport (light) vs Billy Mamaril of Ginebra (dark).
PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines-A first win for a first-time coach saw his team obliterate the crowd darlings.

Literally shooting down the opposition, the GlobalPort Batang Pier slammed down their anchors on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 98-77, and strengthened their playoff spot for the PBA Philippine Cup Saturday afternoon at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

GlobalPort’s victory was also the first game for Eric Gonzales as an interim head coach and beating the crowd darlings was an icing on the cake.

“I’m very happy, very grateful to God and the GlobalPort Management,” Gonzales said who was an assistant coach to Binky Favis of the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs in 1995.

He added that even as former head coach Pido Jarencio was relegated as a consultant, the former UST Growling Tigers head coach was still an instrumental piece in the Globalport bench.

“I’m also thankful for Coach Pido I’ve learned so much from him and he also gave his input before the game,” Gonzales said.

And the two-pronged coaching gave wonders for the Batang Pier as they immediately tamed Ginebra in the first two quarters with a fast-paced offense that left the crowd favorites in shambles.

GlobalPort went on a blistering pace with a 14-0 sailing across the first two quarters that put them ahead 29-16 with point guard Alex Cabagnot calmly drilling a three-pointer in transition.

And they were not done yet; a mini 6-0 run for Batang Pier saw them go ahead by 15, 35-20, with Keith Jensen putting up a nifty layup for and and-one play.

GlobalPort complemented their impressive 48 percent shooting with a lockdown defense that held Ginebra to only 30 percent in the field goal department.

“What we coaches saw before is that players are getting tired faster as the game progresses, I want them to have fresh legs every time they step on the court,” Gonzales, who was UST’s decorated track star in the early 90s, said.

Gonzales saw a pattern with Barako Bull Energy who pressed Ginebra but ultimately failed, 94-75, as their key players ran out of air.

“I also learn from other coaches, when I saw Barako press Ginebra, I took the pattern and rotated my players constantly,” Gonzales said.

As different players came in and out of play in small intervals of time, the Batang Pier took the transition game easily which led to back-to-back triples from Ronjay Buenafe and Terrence Romeo and a 52-31 scoreboard in favor of GlobalPort with four seconds remaining in the first half.

GlobalPort snapped their two-game skid, climbed to seventh in the standings and went to the .500 mark with a 5-5 win-loss slate while giving Ginebra their third straight loss, putting them in the sixth spot and a 5-4 mark.

Romeo was spectacular off the bench for GlobalPort with 25 points and five rebounds.

Anthony Semerad, Alex Cabagnot and Jensen added 17, 15 and 11 points respectively for the Batang Pier.

Big man Greg Slaughter led his team with a fine double-double of 21 points and 15 boards with frontcourt partner Japeth Aguilar with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Box scores:

GLOBALPORT 98-Romeo 25, Semerad 17, Cabagnot 15, Jensen 11, Pinto 5, Buenafe 5, De Ocampo 5, Baclao 4, Caperal 3, Ponferrada 3, Pringle 2, Nabong 2, Isip 1, Taha 0.

GINEBRA 77-Slaughter 21, Aguilar 14, Tenorio 11, Baracael 10, Yeo 6, Caguioa 4, Ellis 4, Mamaril 3, Helterbrand 2, Brondial 2, Urbiztondo 0, Forrester 0, Reyes 0.