Globalport averts disaster, holds off Phoenix

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GlobalPort let its guard down and almost paid for it dearly before holding off Phoenix, 100-91, in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Batang Pier saw their 30-point third quarter lead chopped down to just five, 88-83, with a little under three minutes left.

Fortunately for GlobalPort, new import Murphy Holloway and Terrence Romeo restored order inside the final two minutes with the two scoring the team’s last 10 points.

“Good win for us. It’s a good thing that we were up by more than 20 points. We started to relax. We enjoyed the game too much and everybody was doing their own thing,” said GlobalPort head coach Franz Pumaren.

“They thought that Phoenix would not give a fight. That’s what happens when we delve away from our game plan.”

The Batang Pier got what they were looking for in Holloway, who provided the inside presence and muscle down low.

Holloway delivered 29 points and 26 rebounds in his PBA debut. He replaced Jabril Trawick, who scored just three points in GlobalPort’s loss to Rain or Shine on Friday.

Eugene Phelps had 32 points and 17 rebounds while Cyrus Baguio and Joseph Eriobu added 11 points each for the Fuel Masters, who trailed, 75-45, in the third quarter.

RJ Jazul, who chipped in 10 points, pulled Phoenix to within five with a 3-pointer at the 2:51 mark.

Matthew Wright scored just four points and went 0-of-6 from the field in his first game back with Phoenix after helping Gilas Pilipinas finish fourth in the Jones Cup.