GlobalPort trips Rain or Shine

GLOBALPORT walked the tightrope last night before winning a third straight game, coming from behind to clip Rain or Shine, 101-99, in a Petron Saturday Special game of the PBA Governors’ Cup eliminations at Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City.
Jay Washington followed up his own miss with 27.5 seconds remaining to give the Batang Pier a 100-99 lead as GlobalPort shored up its playoff bid while shutting the door on the Elasto Painters’ top four hopes after catching its victim at 3-4.

Rain or Shine slumped to a second straight defeat after import Dior Lowhorn failed to convert on a perfectly-mapped out play by coach Yeng Guiao that had him dealing with Terrence Romeo inside the paint with 3.4 seconds left for the potential overtime-forging short stab.

Romeo finished with 33 points—22 of them in the first half—to pace the Batang Pier, with Washington coming off the bench to shoot 11 and grab three rebounds, the last one proving to be the most critical.

Michael Glover had 18 points and 13 rebounds and Stanley Pringle chipped in with 16 for the Batang Pier, who moved inside the circle of eight teams that will advance past the eliminations if the playoffs were to start tomorrow.

The Elasto Painters had a golden chance to reclaim the upper hand after that Washington basket only for superstar point guard Paul Lee to hesitate and pass up a shot and leaving it to Jericho Cruz to launch a pressured triple try.

Lowhorn still led the Painters with 21 points with Beau Belga shooting 17 and Lee finishing with 11.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra shoots for a second straight win and a piece of second place when the Gin Kings battle embattled sister team Star as elimination round action returns to Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao today.

The game starts at 6:45 p.m. with the Gin Kings trying to act as executioner of the Hotshots, who are at 1-5.

Blackwater and struggling powerhouse Alaska fight for dear life in the 4:30 p.m. contest, with the Elite seeking an end to a five-game slide and the Aces trying to bounce back from a truly painful loss to the all-Filipino Beermen on Wednesday. Musong R. Castillo
The scores:
GLOBALPORT 101—Romeo 33, Glover 18, Pringle 16, Washington 11, Taha 7, Yeo 6, Mamaril 3, Salvacion 3, Kramer 2, Semerad 2, Dehesa 0, Fortuna 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 99—Lowhorn 21, Belga 17, Lee 11, Tiu 10, Almazan 8, Chan 8, Norwood 6, Ahanmisi 5, Ponferada 5, Cruz 4, Quinahan 4.
Quarters: 25-28, 48-54, 76-81, 101-99