PBA: GlobalPort edges Alaska, secures first win

GlobalPort Batang Pier nabbed its first win in the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup, squeaking by the Alaska Aces, 95-91, on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

Leroy Hickerson tallied a game-high 25 points, 11 rebounds, and four steals. Alex Cabagnot added 24 points, while Terrence Romeo had 18 points and three steals. Jay Washington notched 13 points.

"Talagang gusto nilang manalo e," said coach Pido Jarencio, crediting his veterans. "Actually yung game namin versus Ginebra parang ganito yung game, pero yung second half bumigay kami. Not like ngayon, consistent kami. Nag-miss kami ng free throws [sa huli] pero may pondo na ng mga six points."

Jarencio said he hopes he can build on this win and improve his team's record this conference. In his first run with GlobalPort, they finished 1-8 in the Commissioner's Cup. "Good start 'to para sa amin. At least tie na kami sa last conference na may panalo na, pero meron pang seven games," he said.

Both teams sport 1-1 records, tying Barako Bull at fifth place in the standings.

Alaska looked like they would run away early, 10-3, after JVee Casio buried a trey following a string of inside baskets for the Aces. But GlobalPort leaned heavily on Alex Cabagnot to create from all over the floor, and transition chances from Leroy Hickerson helped Batang Pier finish the first period with a 24-22 lead.

In the second quarter, neither team could seize the upper hand until GlobalPort started getting out on the break. While holding the Aces without a field goal in the last five minutes, Hickerson, Cabagnot, and Terrence Romeo went on a 14-2 run to take a 48-34 advantage at halftime.

GlobalPort stretched the lead to 17 points, 53-36, before the Aces showed signs of life. Alaska rained triples from the perimeter while Gabby Espinas benefited from fluid interior passing during a massive 25-8 run, tying the score at 61-61. But GlobalPort stayed ahead, as RR Garcia scored five in the last two minutes to preserve a 66-62 advantage.


In the fourth, the Aces cut the lead to three, 71-68, following a couple of drives by Henry Walker. Batang Pier rebuffed them as Jay Washington and Jewel Ponferrada combined for nine points in an 11-5 rally, taking it strong to the basket for an 82-73 bubble with four and a half minutes left.

Cabangot hit three free throws to make it a double-digit game, but Alaska powered through the roadblocks that Batang Pier threw at them. A Calvin Abueva putback made it a five-point game with 22 seconds left, 93-88. After Romeo split charities, Walker hit a long three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining, 94-91.

Washington went to the line after an intentional foul and blanked two free throws, but Hickerson got the offensive glass and whipped the ball to Cabagnot. The point guard drew the foul with 4.7 ticks left, and hit the second. Out of timeouts, Walker tried one last Hail Mary that drew the back-iron as time expired.

GlobalPort shot 31-of-68 (45.6 percent), while Alaska went 33-of-72 (45.8 percent). Both teams also left a lot of points at the free throw line, as Batang Pier went 26-of-36 (72.2 percent) and the Aces 17-of-23 (73.9 percent).

Batang Pier led 20-3 on fast break points and 25-15 on turnover points.

Henry Walker filled up the box score with 22 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks. JVee Casio tallied 16 points shooting 4-of-6 from three-point territory, and three steals. Gabby Espinas and Calvin Abueva each added 14 points and combined for 13 rebounds. - AMD, GMA News


The scores:

GLOBALPORT 95 - Hickerson 25, Cabagnot 24, Romeo 18, Washington 13, Garcia 8, Ponferada 4, Macapagal 2, Matias 1, Taha 0, Menk 0, Hayes 0, Salvador 0

ALASKA 91 - Walker 22, Casio 16, Espinas 14, Abueva 14, Baguio 8, Jazul 6, Hontiveros 5, Manuel 4, Thoss 2

Quarterscores: 24-22, 48-34, 66-62, 95-91