MANILA, Philippines – GlobalPort leaned on Stanley Pringle's fourth-period surge to upend and survive Meralco, 86-85, in Friday night's PBA Commissioner's Cup hostilities at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier guard made up for a lackluster first three quarters and poured 13 of his 17 points in the final frame to help his team bounce back in a conference-opening loss to TNT earlier this week.
"We’re struggling, especially Stanley kasi may nararamdaman siyang injury," head coach Pido Jarencio bared during the post-game presser.
"Buti naka-pick up siya nung fourth quarter," he continued. "I’ll take [this]. A win is a win, kahit one point pa 'yan."
Import Malcolm White replicated his sharp performance for GlobalPort, matching his debut with the team with 27 points to lead all scorers. Sean Anthony chimed in 15 to round out the double-digit performers.
KG Canaleta, on the other hand, led the Bolts in scoring with 28 points. Arinze Onuaku, who had a stellar outing in Meralco's win also last week, registered another double-double.
But that's all the help the Bolts got from scoring as the Batang Pier clamped down on Chris Newsome, skipper Cliff Hodge, and Jared Dillinger who only had nine, six and zero, respectively.
"Breaks of the game lang sa dulo," Jarencio noted. "And I commend the last [unit]. 'Yung chemistry wala pa masyado and then na-miss namin si Mo (Tautuaa). He's coming back from Blackwater [pa]."
Tautuaa was serving a one-game suspension after his behavior in the game against his former team.
"Medyo nagsstruggle, pero magtutuloy tuloy naman 'yan as long as we play together, we work together as a team," the GlobalPort mentor said.
"I'm still positive. Kesa naman noong last conference, 0-2 agad kami. At least ngayon, nakakuha na tayo ng panalo," he added.
"Ang ganda rin ng nilaro... Iba rin ang Meralco. Coming from a win on Wednesday? They were aggressive and 'yung execution nila is nandoon," Jarencio closed.
The Batang Pier face Blackwater on Wednesday next, while the Bolts will try to recover when they take on sister team NLEX on Friday.
The Scores:
GLOBALPORT 86 — White 27, Pringle 17, Anthony 15, Araña 7, Nabong 6, Grey 5, Teng 3, Elorde 2, Gabayni 2, Viernes 2, Guinto 0, Sargent 0.
MERALCO 85 — Cañaleta 28, Onuaku 21, Caram 9, Newsome 9, Amer 8, Hodge 6, Hugnatan 2, Salva 2, Dillinger 0, Sedurifa 0.
Quarters: 23-25, 45-44, 63-65, 86-85.