PBA: Batang Pier downs Meralco to break into the win column

The GlobalPort Batang Pier held on late in the game to post an 86-85 victory against the Meralco Bolts to barge into the win column of the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Malcolm White paced the Batang Pier with 27 points and 17 rebounds in 43 minutes on the floor. Stanley Pringle and Sean Anthony, meanwhile, carried the load for the locals with a combined 32 points, 14 rebounds, and five assists, but with 11 miscues.

A Chris Newsome basket cut GlobalPort’s lead to just one with 43 seconds remaining, 83-82, prompting GlobalPort to call for time. After the break, the two teams exchanged missed opportunities, as Stanley Pringle failed to connect on a drive and Anjo Caram committed a turnover.

A split from Pringle with 14 ticks remaining gave the Batang Pier a two point lead, while Jared Dillinger missed his attempt from deep , dooming Meralco’s chances.

Arinze Onuaku led Meralco’s starters with 21 points and 14 rebounds, but it was KG Canaleta who top scored for the bench with 28 markers in only 32 minutes of play. No other Bolt scored in double figures, though, as Chris Newsome and Anjo Caram chipped in nine apiece while Baser Amer was limited to eight.

The Batang Pier shot 46 percent from the field to Meralco’s 41, surviving an atrocious seven percent clip from deep after hitting just one triple in 13 attempts. GlobalPort made up for it by out-rebounding the Bolts, 54-35. —R. Fopalan/LBG, GMA News