Globalport knocks out Ginebra in OT for first-ever semifinals seat

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo combined for 48 points and the Globalport Batang Pier survived Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in overtime, 84-83, in the knockout quarterfinals of 2016 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday, December 27 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Batang Pier entered the semifinals for the first time in franchise history. They joined the league in 2012.

“Credit to the boys, they deserve to go to the semifinals,” said head coach Pido Jarencio. “I really give credit to Terrence, Stanley and the rest of the guys. I told them at halftime they are deserving, this is a good team, we deserve to go to the semis so we have to work harder in the second half.”

Pringle topscored with 25 points making 10 of his 18 field goals to go with 8 rebound, an assists and a block. Romeo added 23 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, including 5 3-pointers.

The backcourt duo gave Globalport the advantage in overtime on consecutive baskets, 79-74, with 3:27 left to play. Jay Washington, who chipped in 13 points and 5 boards, later buried a triple from the corner to briefly stretch the lead to 82-76 before LA Tenorio stole those 3 points right back with his own trey, 82-79.

But Pringle, who was picked first overall in the 2014 draft, then zig zagged through the solo defense of 7-footer Greg Salughter for the Batang Pier’s final two points, 84-80, with under a minute remaining.

Japeth Aguilar came up with 3 points on a split from the line and a bucket underneath before the game was marred by controversy.

Ginebra stayed on the court well after the final buzzer with players and head coach Tim Cone pleading for a review of the final Globalport possession with 8 seconds remaining.

In that last posssession, Washington received the ball on the inbound then handed it off to Stanley Pringle and Ginebra immediately attempted a trap on the guard by the halfcourt line.

But as the seconds ticked away, no foul call or 5-second ball-hogging violation was called on Pringle before he was finally able to pass the ball out to Romeo on the wing and time expired, leaving fans and the Ginebra team stunned at the result.

According to PBA Media Bureau Chief Willie Marcial, Cone signed the official scorecard and the team will have until 12 noon on Monday, December 28 to file a letter of protest together with a bond.

“We all know Ginebra is a tough team and coach Tim is a good coach but those were breaks of the game,” Jarencio said of the controversial play. “We got that 3-point lead and then they made the shot and we designed a play. Breaks of the game, they did not call it, whatever it was. I also think there was a foul but they didn’t call it.”

Joseph Yeo added 11 points for Globalport, who will clash with Alaska in a best-of-7 semifinals in January.

Slaughter led the ousted Gin Kings with 25 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks. Tenorio, who put Ginebra on top 72-69 late in regulation, finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals.

Joe Devance added 12 points for the fallen Ginebra, who was fresh from an epic overtime victory over rivals Star Hotshots on Christmas Day.

Scores: 

Globalport (84): Pringle 25, Romeo 23, Washington 13, Yeo 11, Mamaril 4, Kramer 3, Semerad 3, Jensen 2, Maierhofer 0, Pena 0, Sumang 0.

Ginebra (83): Slaughter 25, Tenorio 18, Devance 12, Caguioa 9, Mercado 9, Aguilar 6, Cruz 4, Ellis 0, Marcelo 0, Thompson 0.

Quarter scores: 18-16, 33-32, 53-53, 74-74, 84-83.

– Rappler.com