Blackwater import Henry Walker collides with GlobalPort’s Sean Anthony in Sunday’s PBA Governors’ Cup game at Ynares Center in Antipolo. —AUGUST DELA CRUZ
ANTIPOLO—Allein Maliksi had an impressive debut and Henry Walker held Blackwater together yet again as the Elite tripped GlobalPort on Sunday night, hastening the completion of the quarterfinal cast of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Acquired from Star just a few days back, Maliksi scored 22 points and Walker flirted with a triple double as the Elite led early before holding on for a 118-107 decision of the Batang Pier at Ynares Center here that left the rest of the elimination round as games for qualifiers to improve on their current rankings.
In rising to 5-5, the Elite not only shut the door on the Batang Pier but also on the idle Alaska Aces, both with 3-7 cards.
The Aces will be clashing with Rain or Shine on Wednesday with the game carrying a lot of weight for the Elasto Painters who, like the Elite, would want to avoid clashing with the top seed in the quarterfinals.
As things stand, Rain or Shine has Alaska and then Blackwater to close out its elimination round schedule. That match happens Saturday with the loser dropping to
No. 8 and having the unenviable task of beating No. 1 two straight times.
“We need (to win) to improve our standings,” Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said.
In the nightcap, TNT KaTropa outlasted Star, 104-99, to improve to 7-3 and tie idle NLEX in third place.
Star and Rain or Shine share 5-4 marks.
Isaac’s entire starting unit finished with twin digits in scoring and Dave Marcelo, another new recruit acquired from Barangay Ginebra, came off the bench to scatter 13 for the Elite, who led by as much as 21 points in the third period.
“We were lucky to withstand that GlobalPort rally,” Isaac said, before paying tribute to Walker for his leadership on the floor. “He was doing everything he can in being a leader for us on the floor.”
Blackwater also caught a break in the second period when Terrence Romeo was ejected for throwing the ball at Walker.
“That was a big thing for us,” Isaac admitted. “We had our [defensive] radar on Terrence for this game because we know he can really explode. When he was thrown out, he already had 13 points. Imagine what he could have done [to us] if he was able to finish the game.”
Murhphey Holloway scored 28 points and had 23 rebounds to lead the Batang Pier.