The Final Score: On the scorgasmic GlobalPort trio of Romeo, Cabagnot, Pringle

 

I enjoy minutiae just like any other happy hoop nerd enjoys minutiae. It’s about embracing the complication. You know, acting like rocket scientists in lab coats, noticing the little systematic wrinkles and quirks that make teams win or lose. Call it San Antonio Spursgasm. 

 

Sometimes, however, it’s fun to just focus on the fun stuff. Like watching GlobalPort’s Terrence Romeo, Alex Cabagnot and Stanley Pringle - three guys whose combined mission is to score 300 points in a 48-minute game.

 

I swear if Romeo averages 33 points a game, the world will become a happier place. Food will taste better. Gas prices will go down. People will smile at one another a whole lot more. 

 

OK, maybe none of those things will happen. But I can promise this: if Romeo goes on a Gary David-style Powerade circa 2012 scoring spree for, say, six straight games, your life as a PBA fan will become twice as thrilling.

 

Cabagnot, suddenly, becomes the wise man of GlobalPort’s three-man society of intrepidness. If anyone has the right to dispense advice, it’s Alex. He has played in championship games, made winning shots, played on stacked teams. I realize how cool his dual role is. He can act as mentor to two young scorers: be a Morgan Freeman-type of guru to Romeo and Pringle. Or... he can lead by example and show Romeo and Pringle how the fearless pull-up jumper in transition is done.

 

Pringle says he’s excited to play alongside Romeo and Cabagnot. I hope he’s telling the truth. I think he’s telling the truth. Please, please, please basketball gods, make this work. He played 40 minutes against NLEX. That’s an early sign. No one should treat him like a wide-eyed rookie. He won’t play like one. He won’t be defended like one. If Romeo provides audacity and Cabagnot provides wisdom, Pringle provides steady confidence.

 

It’s fitting that they play for Coach Pido "Don’t-you-dare-require-me-to-wear-a-necktie" Jarencio. I know there’s a Pido in all of us. If you look hard enough, you will find it. But there’s a Pido in each of his three gunners. There’s a Pido in Terrence. There’s a Pido in Alex. There’s a Pido in Stanley. Actually, among the three, Terrence has the most Pido in him. That’s my hunch. So when I saw Jarencio send all three in to start the game, I inhaled, clenched my fist, and let out a visceral woohoo. 

 

Was I even worried when GlobalPort trailed NLEX, 14-2, early? Not really. Surely, GlobalPort aims for efficiency each time they take the floor but that’s not why you’ll watch them. You’ll watch them because they can overcome a 14-2 deficit in about two shots. If GlobalPort was Top Gun, one Maverick won’t suffice. There are three Mavericks. There is no Goose. This setup can be spectacularly good or spectacularly ba…wait, why even worry? 

 

Against NLEX, Romeo had 33 points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals in 38 minutes. Cabagnot had 23 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two steals in 35 minutes. Pringle had 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals in 40 minutes. Scoregasm? Scoregasmic! 

 

Even if GlobalPort lost to NLEX, fret not. It was just the season opener. Besides, if a 0-1 record doesn’t deter you from watching GlobalPort’s next game, Pido and his Big 3 must be doing some fun things right? — JST, GMA News