MANILA, Philippines – GlobalPort played with an all-Filipino lineup for most of the 4th quarter but managed to complete a 98-94 comeback triumph over San Miguel in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Wednesday, June 13. 

Even without import Malcolm White, who was ejected with 8:06 remaining in the game, the Batang Pier erased an 8-point deficit in the payoff period to snap a two-game skid and improve to 4-4. 

White paced GlobalPort with 25 points and 10 rebounds before getting tossed out after a hard foul on Beermen counterpart Renaldo Balkman, which earned him his second technical foul. 

Instead of sulking with the loss of their import, the Batang Pier slowly chipped away on San Miguel’s lead with Stanley Pringle and Nico Elorde leading the way. 

Pringle, who chalked up 22 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals, scored 8 of his output in the last frame while Elorde, who had 6 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, drilled in a trey that gave GlobalPort a 95-92 lead with 48 seconds remaining. 

Two Balkman free throws kept the comeback door ajar for the Beermen but Pringle stole the ball from Alex Cabagnot, paving the way for a Mo Tautuaa layup with 19 seconds left, 97-94. 

Another turnover, this time from Balkman, ended the Beermen’s 3-game winning streak.

“This is a big win for us, especially going to the playoffs. ‘Pag natalo kami, bababa kami eh, at least ngayon, we have a big chance in the final 8,” said GlobalPort head coach Pido Jarencio.

(This is a big win for us, especially going to the playoffs. If we lost this game, we will fall in the standings. At least with this win, we have a big chance in the final 8.)

Sean Anthony had 11 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and two steals while Mo Tautuaa added 8 points and 8 rebounds in the win. 

San Miguel, led by Balkman’s 33 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks and 4 steals, saw its record fall to 3-4.

June Mar Fajaro finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds, Cabagnot chalked up 19 markers while Arwind Santos chipped in 10 points and 10 boards in the loss. 

The Scores:

GlobalPort (98): White 25, Pringle 22, Anthony 11, Guinto 9, Tautuaa 8, Grey 7, Elorde 6, Nabong 3, Teng 3, Sargent 2, Javelona 2

San Miguel (94): Balkman 33, Fajardo 20, Cabagnot 19, Santos 10, Lassiter 6, Ross 6, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Mamaril 0, Heruela 0, Pessumal 0, Standhardinger 0

Quarter scores: 23-27, 47-51, 71-79, 98-94

– Rappler.com