Romeo drops 33 as GlobalPort fends off import-less TNT

Terrence Romeo vs Matt Rosser. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

INQUIRER.net

GlobalPort took advantage of an undermanned TNT side and scored a 108-101 victory, the Elite’s second straight, Friday in the 2016 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Mall of Asia Arena.

Terrence Romeo was blazing anew, scattering 33 points on 11-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe to go with four rebounds and three assists.

Returning Batang Pier reinforcement Calvin Warner, meanwhile, did all the dirty work in his first game
back, finishing with a double-double of 11 markers, 21 rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.

“Yung import namin talagang he’s a true professional. At the same time, nagkaamuyan agad sa local guys. They did their share,” said coach Pido Jarencio.

Stanley Pringle also had 14 points, five boards, and five dimes, while Roi Sumang shot 3-of-4 from threes to end up with 11.

Despite GlobalPort improving to a 2-1 record, the outspoken coach noted that the Batang Pier got an advantage with the Tropa still without an import after the ouster of Ivan Johnson.

“Iba pa rin yung may import ka na naglaro. TNT is a strong team. Kita naman na nakabalik sila from 20 points down, pero yung team natin, di rin naman magpapatalo kasi kailangan na kailangan yung panalo na ito,” said Jarencio.

Though TNT played without an import, GlobalPort, who led by as many as 21, 81-60, in the third quarter didn’t coast to an easy victory as TNT put on a fightback in the fourth quarter.

Jayson Castro scored 14 of his team’s 16 points in Tropa’s 16-4 tear that cut the lead down to five, 98-93, capped off by a booming triple at the 3:45 mark of the payoff period.

But Romeo countered with the big shots in the end game, including the dagger three with 2:40 left to play to push the Batang Pier lead back to eight, 103-95.

Castro poured 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter fir TNT, which dropped to 1-2.

Mo Tautuaa chipped in 21 markers and seven rebounds, while Danny Seigle had 16 points in the defeat.

The Scores:

GLOBALPORT 108 – Romeo 33, Pringle 14, Sumang 11, Warner 11, Washington 9, Semerad 8, Yeo 8, Mamaril 6, Jensen 4, Kramer 2, Maierhofer 2, Uyloan 0.
TNT 101 – Castro 25, Tautuaa 21, Seigle 16, De Ocampo 10, Fonacier 8, J. Reyes 8, Ganuelas-Rosser 6, Carey 3, Ababou 2, R. Reyes 2, Aban 0, Rosario 0.

Quarters: 19-18, 55-43, 90-71, 108-101.