PBA: Washington earns career-high as GlobalPort downs Ginebra in OT

The GlobalPort Batang Pier defeated Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 113-106, on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, to earn a quarterfinals berth in the 2013 PBA Governors' Cup, their first in franchise history.

Jay Washington, acquired during the offseason, was the star of the game, registering a career-high 30 points along with 14 rebounds and five blocks.

"J-Wash came out of his shell," said GlobalPort head coach Junel Baculi. "Always tough playing Ginebra; they have quality players."

The Batang Pier improved to 4-5, tying Barako Bull Energy Cola in the standings, while Ginebra fell to 3-5.  

A booming triple from Mac Baracael at the 3:47 mark of the fourth quarter gave Ginebra a four-point lead, 96-92, as GlobalPort settled for an airball from import Markeith Cummings.

After a Rico Maierhofer miss, Jay Washington raced to the other end for a quick two. Baracael then missed jumper, as Kelly Nabong tied the game with two from the line. Mark Caguioa responded with a pull-up, but Mercado canned two more from the line for a 98-all count.

Dior Lowhorn lost the ball on the ensuing play, as Sol Mercado drove in for the go-ahead basket with 1:24 remaining. After a timeout, Ginebra went to Lowhorn for a short jumper, but his attempt fell short. The Barangay was awarded possession after Nabong failed to secure the defensive board, but the call was reversed after a look at the instant replay.

Mercado committed a turnover at the other end, stepping on the baseline as he drove. Caguioa went to Baracael in the wings, but his attempt from deep was blocked by Washington. Ginebra was left with one second on their shotclock, but Lowhorn's short stab was too strong. The ball ended up with Caguioa for a straight-up three, but his attempt failed to fall through as well.

With 16.6 seconds remaining, Mercado was sent to the line. He missed the first, but made the second, pushing GlobalPort's lead to three, 101-98. After a timeout, Chris Ellis found Jayjay Helterbrand for a three, tying the game with 4.2 to go.

With a chance to win the game, Batang Pier went to Washington who couldn't hit the tough fadeaway, sending the game to overtime.

Washington opened up the scoring to start the extra period, before Gary David canned two from the line, 105-101. Ginebra found Chris Ellis underneath against Gary David, but the high-flyer was not able to hit the extra free throw. A dribbling violation gave Ginebra back the ball, but Caguioa's short stab couldn't find the mark. The two teams exchanged turnovers and misses, before Washington converted from the line at the 1:39 mark, 107-103.

Ginebra quickly fed Lowhorn in the low block, and the import finished an and-one play against the defense of Washington. GlobalPort responded with a tough jumper from Washington, before Cummings converted with 25 seconds to go for a five-point cushion, 111-106. After a timeout, Ginebra still could not buy a bucket, giving GlobalPort the victory.

"[With] Sol, after spat naming dalawa, he knew how to be responsible for the team," said Baculi. "Ang point guard talaga extension ng coach sa game. He took the challenge head on."

GlobalPort Junel Baculi enjoyed a combined 57 points from Washington and Mercado, the latter also chiming in with eight assists and two steals. Cummings registered 19 markers, while Gary David scored 15 despite missing all of his three-point attempts.

An LA Tenorio four-point play, followed by a Dior Lowhorn slam had Ginebra racing to a 10-2 lead in the first, but GlobalPort responded with twin treys from Jay Washington, while a Sol Mercado layup knotted the game at 10-all early on.

Makes by Mark Caguioa fended off an attack led by Gary David, 23-19, before Lowhorn found his rhythm to bump the lead back to eight, 27-19. Cummings and Mercado took shots back, but a Lowhorn dunk off a Tenorio dish had the Barangay finishing off the first with a 31-24 lead.