Blackwater apparently needed more than just a major coaching change.
GlobalPort picked the Elite apart with pure aggressiveness and energy for a persuasive 117-106 win Wednesday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Trailing by as many as 12 in the first half, the Batang Pier reversed the trend with Sean Anthony and Stanley Pringle mocking every defensive ploy thrown by Blackwater.
Anthony poured 13 of his points in that huge third-quarter turnaround while Pringle’s assortment of incursions created the separation that Global Part comfortably protected until the final buzzer.
“Blackwater is a tough team despite of its record. Luckily, we got into an aggressive tone in the second half,’’ said Anthony.
It foiled the coaching debut of Bong Ramos for the Elite, who lost their fourth straight in as many games, the first three badly hurt by errors.
Ramos replaced coach Leo Isaac after Blackwater dropped three in a row by an average of 17 points and 28 turnovers.
The Elite weren’t hounded by miscues last night but couldn’t match Global Port’s depth and prowess.
Anthony was two assists shy of a triple-double following a stat line of 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists while Pringle added 26 points on top six boards and seven assists.
Malcolm White had 28 points, most of them forceful moves in the lane, and Mo Tautuaa contributed 14 points and 10 boards.
Scoring back-to-back victories, the Batang Pier moved up tied for second place with a 2-1 record along with Columbian Dyip.
They’re up by 18 late in the third but the Elite found a way to storm back within five on a Mac Belo triple only to surrender for good when Anthony and Pringle restored order on Global Port’s offense.