B Pier draw Pido’s ire, foil Kia 5

MANILA, Philippines - The Globalport Batang Pier drew a severe dressing down from their coach at the break and came out with a different mindset to beat the Kia Sorento, 84-79, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

A furious Pido Jarencio shattered a whiteboard inside the dugout in disgust over the way the Batang Pier had played in the first 24 minutes. And the team responded, charging back from a 11-point deficit to repulse the Sorento in a scrambling finish and nail their second win in four games.

Kia, continuing to miss playing coach Manny Pacquiao, absorbed its third straight loss after an opening day victory over Blackwater.

Wing players Mac Baracael and Mark Caguioa put together 37 points while big men Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar combined for 18 markers and 24 points as Barangay Ginebra rebounded from a loss with a 100-91 win over Blackwater in the nightcap.

“They (the Elite) were tough. They’re a second-half team and they proved it tonight. But our guys stayed firm, stayed tough,” said Ginebra coach Jeff Cariaso.

With the Batang Pier down at 36-47 at the half, Jarencio talked to his players one by one, telling them they can go home if they don’t want to play.

Ronjay Buenafe and rookie Anthony Semerad rose to the challenge, combining for 31 points as Globalport eventually defied the challenge of the league newcomer in a match marred by a fight between Chad Alonzo and Semerad.

Buenafe, averaging only three points in their first three games, fired four three-pointers and a game-high total of 19 points while Semerad, the MVP winner in the recent NCAA finals, tossed in 12 markers in his second game in the pros.

“This is a relief for the team. We don’t want to languish in the cellar. We’re tired of being there,” said Jarencio.

Also drawing firepower from Stanley Pringle and Mark Isip, the Batang Pier overcame a sluggish start and squeezed through even minus main man Alex Cabagnot and with starting center Noy Baclao playing only five minutes.

Cabagnot was down with flu while Baclao was also under the weather but refused to sit down the game.

“I don’t think our two losses was a reflection of our character. I considered it breaks of the game. It’s not our character to break down,” said Jarencio. “You can see here. It’s a come-from-behind win against a Kia team that’s playing very well.”

The game was still tied at 69 before another rookie John Pinto rifled in a trey to spark a decisive 9-2 run by the Batang Pier.

The Sorento dominated the first half marred by a fight between Alonzo and Semerad.

Alonzo connected with at least four hits on the Globalport freshman before they were separated by the refs.

The former Adamson player himself brought Semerad down to the floor. Curiously, the refs ruled it a double-technical foul.

On the bench a little later, Alonzo was seen on TV ridiculing the refs with a big smile while demonstrating to his teammates his hits on Semerad.  

In the second half, Reil Cervantes and Jewel Ponferada were also slapped a double-technical foul.