Globalport seals quarterfinal clash vs Star

Jarrid Famous of Global Port vs Nonoy Baclao of Alaska Aces

Globalport needed extra time to dust off an Alaska side that played at half-strength in the second half last night, scoring a 117-104 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum that gave the Batang Pier the last twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.

Jarrid Famous scored 16 of his 34 points in the third period and Stanley Pringle had 10 of his 24 in the fourth as the Batang Pier finished No. 4 in the elimination round —the first time they wound up in the league’s top four before the playoffs.

The win sealed a quarterfinal clash with defending champion Star, which bucked a slow start to down Blackwater, 87-82, in the second game.

The playoff cast will be completed after today’s regular doubleheader, where Meralco guns for No. 7 and can oust KIA Motors in the 4:15 p.m. game. A win by the Bolts would also ease Barangay Ginebra out of the playoffs even if the Gin Kings win over NLEX in the 7 p.m. contest.

For Ginebra to keep its 24-conference streak of making the playoffs alive, the Gin Kings must hope for a KIA win before beating the Road Warriors. For the Carnival to advance, they must beat the Bolts by at least 17 points.

A KIA victory of 16 points or less and a win by the Kings would drop idle Talk ‘N Text out of the running.

Already assured of the No. 1 spot going into the game, the Aces benched import Romeo Travis in the second half and overtime.

The local core joined Travis one after the other on the bench and Alaska finished the game with its shock troopers resting.

It had reason to, as the Aces even took a 100-99 lead with 4:02 left after a baby hook by Eric Menk.

“We took advantage of Alaska playing all-Filipino in the second half,” said Globalport’s Pido Jarencio, who earned another first in his career as a coach.

The Batang Pier finished the elimination round with a 7-4 record and, with the win, relegated Star to No. 5.

Alaska, second to San Miguel Beer in this season’s Philippine Cup, showed its readiness for the playoffs even with its bench players finishing the game.

Globalport pounced on that, allowing the Aces to score only at the final one-minute mark for 112-102.

San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine will be ranked second and third, respectively, in the playoffs and will play Nos. 7 and 6, in that order.

The Beermen and the Elasto Painters also need to win just once to forge a Final Four duel.

Should Alaska and Globalport hurdle their foes in the first round, they will collide in the best-of-five semifinals.

The scores:

First Game

GLOBALPORT 117—Famous 34, Pringle 24, Krayem 20, Romeo 14, Jensen 11, Kramer 8, Mamaril 2, Isip 2, Miranda 2, Hayes 0, Semerad 0, Buenafe 0, Ponferada 0.

ALASKA 104—Baguio 20, TRavis 13, Banchero 10, Menk 10, Abueva 8, Jazul 8, Manuel 6, Casio 5, Dela Cruz 5, Thoss 4, Baclao 4, Dela Rosa 4, Exciminiano 4, Hontiveros 2, Eman 1.

Quarters: 16-26, 40-49, 74-67, 98-98 (reg.), 117-104 (OT)

Second Game

STAR 87—Blakely 22, Mallari 12, Devance 12, Simon 11, Barroca 10, Yap 10, Pingris 4, Taha 3, Melton 3, Reavis 0, Maliksi 0, Pennisi 0.

BLACKWATER 82—Cousin 21, Gamalinda 12, Cervantes 9, Acuna 8, Celiz 7, Bulawan 5, Laure 5, Canada 5, Reyes 4, Erram 2, Heruela 2, Golla 2, Ballesteros 0.

Quarters: 19-21, 39-46, 67-64, 87-82