GlobalPort posts first win, sends NLEX to 0-6 start

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

GlobalPort overcame the absence of Terrence Romeo down the stretch to beat NLEX, 85-82, for its first win in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Malcolm White scored 23 points, including the go-ahead jumper, 82-80, with 23.8 seconds left, that went with 16 rebounds and six blocks as the Batang Pier finally barged into the win column after dropping their first four games.

“There is no perfect game but there is perfect effort,” said GlobalPort deputy Eric Gonzales, filling in for head coach Franz Pumaren, who was feeling under the weather. “I wanted to bring Terrence back in the game but he suffered from cramps. But, everybody stepped up in his place.”

“We dedicate this game to coach Senen,” Gonzales said, referring to team assistant Senen Dueñas, who passed away Wednesday morning due to complications following chest surgery.

Stanley Pringle added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists while Romeo finished with 12 points on a bad 3-of-12 shooting night from the field with five assists and five turnovers.

Romeo went to the bench with 6:15 remaining and headed into the dugout with under five minutes left.

NLEX import Wayne Chism posted a game-high 29 points and 14 rebounds but he did not get enough support from the locals with Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete and Carlo Lastimosa combining for just one point.

Both Lanete and Lastimosa, who logged just three minutes and 14 seconds, were held scoreless.

The Road Warriors, who suffered their sixth loss in as many games, rallied from 10 points down in the third quarter with Chism tying the game at 80 with a 3-pointer over White with 34.9 ticks to go.

White answered back with a baseline turnaround jumper over Chism to put GlobalPort ahead for good.

Juami Tiongson’s heave just passed halfcourt that would’ve forced overtime hit the front iron as time ran out.