G’Port stalls Meralco

GlobalPort import Justin Harper drives to the basket against Meralco. PBA IMAGES

Minus its leading local scorer but with a brand-new nucleus and a new import, GlobalPort clipped Meralco, 94-86, Wednesday night to stay alive in the playoff race in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup while derailing the Bolts’ drive for a top two finish at Mall of Asia Arena.

Sean Anthony, a recent acquisition from NLEX, scored half of his 18 points in the fourth period and Justin Harper finished with 30 as they joined hands with old faces Stanley Pringle and Mike Cortez in doing most of the damage on the Bolts.

It was just the third win in nine games for the Batang Pier, one that allowed Star to tie for the lead with the Bolts at 7-2 after a 107-97 decision of TNT KaTropa later in the night.

The result solidified a four-way fight for the twice-to-beat bonuses in the first round of the playoffs.

Idle Barangay Ginebra and the Beermen have 5-1 records and are very much in it, while the Texters, after dropping to 6-3, might have to contend themselves with a finish in the upper half of the playoff draw and a best-of-three series stint.

“I was really running after him. We needed a scoring import,” coach Franz Pumaren said of Harper, who did have eight turnovers but played hard on both ends to make up for that.

“The new players really helped us. I chose them, knowing they are the type of players we need,” added Pumaren, who also got Bradwyn Guinto from NLEX and Jonathan Grey from Meralco.

Guinto finished with eight points, seven of them in the fourth period where GlobalPort scored 33 to put away the Bolts.

The Bolts were considerably flatter compared to their last game and lost for the first time in more than a month.

Alex Stepheson had 27 rebounds and 19 points but the Bolts slipped in the final four minutes and scored just five points while giving up 14 as the Batang Pier erased an 80-81 deficit with ease.

Pringle finished with 16, while Cortez chipped in  13.