Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
In a game that had a lot of twists and turns, Star finally emerged on the winning on the winning side after a 105-102 overtime win over GlobalPort in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
RR Garcia engaged former teammate Terrence Romeo in a shootout and came out on top, saving the day for the Hotshots late as he poured eight of his 26 points in OT, including the go-ahead freebies off a deliberate foul called on Stanley Pringle with 8.4 seconds left that sealed his team’s first victory in three outings.
“Our gameplan today was simple, score more points than our opponent,” said an exhausted and relieved Star head coach Jason Webb.
Marqus Blakely had 24 markers, 22 boards, six assists, and five blocks, while Peter June Simon added 15 points, including the huge trey with 16.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 90.
Mark Barroca left the game open for the Batang Pier in overtime as he split his freebies with 7.0 seconds remaining, but GlobalPort’s last attempt, a desperation heave by Joseph Yeo went way off as Star escaped with the victory.
“We wanted to start a little bit better, but we can’t seem to get that start in the conference right. At the end of the day, those losses are not final or fatal. We’re still alive even though we started poorly.”
New GlobalPort import Mike Glover seemed to have given his team the victory with a pair of freebies after Allein Maliksi fouled him with 14.7 seconds left, but Garcia scored on a tough drive with 3.7 seconds left to tie the game anew at 92. Romeo lost the ball as he went for the potential game-wining shot as the game went into extra time.
Glover topscored for the Batang Pier with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists, while Romeo also got 27 markers on a 9-of-23 shooting from the field, to go with six boards, and six dimes.
Pringle scored 20 points in the losing effort, as GlobalPort fell to 0-3.
The game was momentarily halted at the 11:37 mark of the fourth period, with the game tied at 71, due to a power interruption, taking roughly 20 minutes to restore the lights and for the game to resume.
The scores:
STAR 105 – Garcia 26, Blakely 24, Simon 15, Barroca 11, Pingris 8, Maliksi 7, Sangalang 6, Mallari 4, Pascual 2, Reavis 2, Yap 0.
GLOBALPORT 102 – Glover 27, Romeo 27, Pringle 20, Yeo 11, Taha 10, Semerad 3, Dehesa 2, Kramer 2, Mamaril 0.
Quarters: 19-22, 42-44, 71-71, 92-92, 105-102.