Romeo, Warner shine in Globalport victory

GLOBALPORT’S Stanley Pringle drives against Barako Bull’s Paolo Hubalde (left) and Chico Lanete. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines—Terrence Romeo scored 24 points and import Calvin Warner tossed in 14 of his 23 in the last quarter as Globalport ripped Barako Bull, 99-81, Wednesday night to rise to a level 3-3 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Stanley Pringle and Mark Isip added 14 apiece for the Batang Pier, who bounced back mightily from a sorry loss to league-leader Meralco over the weekend.

The loss was the second straight for the Energy after opening up with three straight wins.

Solomon Alabi paced the Energy with 37 points, but veteran JC Intal was held down to just four. Barako Bull missed Sol Mercado for the fourth straight game and no one was able to plug the hole.

Warner also had 20 rebounds and four assists, and, more importantly, provided the inside presence and the experience sorely lacking from the Batang Pier in the past.

“His (Warner’s) maturity, being a veteran, helps us [weather] our immaturity,” Globalport coach Eric Gonzales said. “We need an inside presence that is mature and will help the team get better.”

The game was tight until the final seven minutes when the Batang Pier methodically peeled away as Warner and Romeo took turns in hitting the baskets that eventually snuffed the fight out of the Energy.

It was also a great way for the Batang Pier to rebound from a stinging loss at the hands of the Bolts last weekend, when they blew several chances in the stretch against the undefeated pacesetters.

Meanwhile, Alaska, San Miguel Beer and Talk ‘N Text have all signed up new imports, with the Beermen bringing in former Rain or Shine reinforcement Arizona Reid to take the place of Ronald Roberts.

Alaska has tapped Damion James in place of DJ Covington, while the Tropang Texters, who have gone 4-1 with the help of last season’s Best Import Richard Howell, recruited Ivan Wilkerson Johnson.

All three will be measured at the league’s offices tomorrow for the 6-foot-9 height limit which Reid will clear with ease, having played for the Elasto Painters previously in conferences where the limit was four inches shorter.

The latest changes has now left Barako Bull, Barangay Ginebra, KIA Motors, Blackwater, Meralco and NLEX as the teams that have so far stuck with their original reinforcements.

The scores:

First Game

GLOBALPORT 99—Romeo 24, Warner 23, Pringle 14, Isip 14, Buenafe 7, Jensen 7, Miranda 4, Semerad 4, Caperal 2, Taha 0, Ponferada 0, Pinto 0, Nabong 0, Baclao 0, De Ocampo 0.

BARAKO BULL 81—Alabi 37, Lastimosa 12, Lanete 11, Pascual 6, Garcia 5, Intal 4, Chua 2, Matias 2, Hubalde 2, Salvador 0, Mercado 0, Marcelo 0, Salva 0, Paredes 0, Sorongon 0.

Quarters: 17-27, 45-44, 66-62, 99-81