Fastbreak: GlobalPort wins 3 straight, rookies shine

Enzo Flojo

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The young GlobalPort franchise gets their first 3-game win streak as Greg Slaughter dominates in Ginebra's win over Barako Bull

EXPLOSIVE BACKCOURT. Sol Mercado and Terrence Romeo started a 1st half onslaught to lead GlobalPort to their 3rd straight victory. Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

GlobalPort over Alaska, 94-84

The Best: Terrence Romeo bounced back from his slump by shooting 8/15 from the field on his way to 21 points as the Batang Pier rose to 4 wins and 3 losses. This was a big win for GlobalPort, which is hoping to be among the top 4 teams when the elimination round ends. So far, neophyte head coach Richie Ticzon’s balanced reliance on his veterans and rookies has been, generally speaking, paying off. That was very evident in this game, as Sol Mercado also dropped a big game on the Aces. The Sol Train erupted for 26 markers along with 5 boards and 4 dimes, while Romeo added 6 rebounds and 2 assists to his tally.

The Worst: Alaska was in hot water from the get-go. Coach Luigi Trillo’s wards, despite shooting relatively well from the field, just didn’t take care of the basketball. They gave up 16 turnovers, which GlobalPort translated into 23 points-off-turnovers. Coupled with how Alaska lost the battle of the boards, 49-43, and shot just 57% from the stripe, well, the end result should not be very surprising. The Aces have been terribly inconsistent to start this season, and they are now mired in 2-5 hole near the bottom of the standings.

All About Balance: Aside from Mercado and Romeo, other guys who really did well for GlobalPort were veterans Jay Washington and Mark Yee, as well as rookie playmaker RR Garcia. J-Wash scored 13 points, hauled down 9 rebounds, handed out 5 assists, and stole the ball twice in a rock-solid effort. Meanwhile, Yee and Garcia combined to shoot 5 triples and score 23 points. If coach Ticzon can push his wards to continue playing in a very balanced manner, then we might be looking at a sleeper championship contender right here.

HARD-EARNED. Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel had answers each time Barako Bull attempted a comeback to eke out a hard-earned 85-79 victory against Barako Bull. Photo by Nuki Sabio/PBA Images

Ginebra over Barako Bull, 85-79

The Best: Greg Slaughter came out not just to play, but to dominate in this encounter. The former Ateneo and Gilas slotman was a behemoth here, scoring 15 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots. The top overall pick of the 2013 PBA Draft did struggle from the field (6/13) and from the line (3/8), but those were grossly overshadowed by the fact he just outplayed Barako’s aging duo in the middle – Mick Pennisi and Dorian Peña.

The Worst: Barako Bull was on the short end of fortune in this encounter. They didn’t get a lot of breaks in the game, and didn’t really attack the rim with a lot of aggression. The Energy Cola did shoot better from the field (43% vs 38%), but they were gifted with just 7 free throw attempts the entire match. In contrast, the Gin Kings were more active around the basket and were given 29 free throws. They made 21.

Fantastic Forwards: Former Gilas teammates Mac Baracael and Japeth Aguilar were very effective against Barako. Baracael connected on three triples on his way to scoring 15 points, while Aguilar continued his stellar play this conference with 16 points, 5 boards, 3 blocks, and 2 assists. Barako Bull just had no answer for the athleticism and aggressiveness of Ginebra’s frontline. –Rappler.com

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