Enforcers finally overcome Batang Pier

Games today (Philsports Arena)

3 p.m. – Meralco vs TNT

5:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Star

MANILA, Philippines - KG Canaleta and six other Mahindra players put in double-figure outputs to negate Terrence Romeo’s career-high-tying 41-point effort as the Enforcers beat the GlobalPort Batang Pier for the first time ever – a 111-98 victory in the Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Canaleta marked his 34th birthday with a superb offensive game, scoring all of his team-high 20 points in the first half then LA Revilla, Michael Digregorio, Karl Dehesa and Mark Yee took over in the second half as the Enforcers nailed a first win over the Batang Pier since joining the pro league in 2014.

Rain or Shine and Barangay Ginebra are the only teams left Mahindra has yet to beat.

Import Augustus Gilchrist provided the backbone on defense and contributed 10 markers and seven boards as Mahindra got off to a triumphant debut in the mid-season tourney, after a poor 2-9 showing in the Philippine Cup.

“It’s about our defense. We put emphasis on that. We talked about controlling their perimeter game,” said Mahindra coach Cito Victolero.

“I’m very happy with our defense and the total team effort put up by the guys. In our buildup for this conference, we worked on consistency. Last conference, we kept on fighting but couldn’t finish the game. We had a lot of games which we could’ve won but we didn’t because of inconsistency,” Victolero also said.

Al Thornton sizzled with a huge 50-point game in his PBA comeback and NLEX made a triumphant debut in the mid-season tourney with a 114-112 overtime decision over Barangay Ginebra later in the night.

“We had doubt on whether Al Thornton can play for us in this tourney because he’s just undergone a stem cell treatment. It’s all on him. It’s his fighting spirit,” said NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez.  

Meanwhile, Tropang TNT and Meralco fight for the early solo lead when they clash in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special at the Philsports Arena at 3 p.m. today.

The other game at 5:15 p.m. pits the debuting Rain or Shine Elasto Painters against the Star Hotshots, who were beaten by the Meralco Bolts Wednesday.

Romeo erupted for 41 points on 17-of-33 shooting but failed to draw the needed support from his teammates.

Jay Washington sat behind the GlobalPort bench because of an injury while import Brian Williams struggled with only 13 points in his PBA debut. 

Romeo sizzled most in the third period, piling up 16 markers to fuel a run that shoved the Batang Pier to within one at 61-62 from a 47-60 halftime deficit.

The Enforcers, however, regrouped in the fourth, with baskets by Gilchrist, Digregorio and Revilla restoring a double-digit lead for Mahindra at 88-78.

With a decent stand against Romeo, Revilla finished with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Digregorio pumped in two treys and wound up with a total of 14 markers while Dehesa added 12, Yee 11 and Bradwyn Guinto 10.

The Enforcers nailed 13 of 28 three-pointers as against the Batang Pier’s 6-of-24.

The Mahindra coach was happy with the performance of their import.

“He’s a team player, he knows our system and he jibes with our locals. I’m very hopeful and very positive with him. He brings a lot of positive things on the floor,” said Victolero.

The scores:

First Game

MAHINDRA 111 – Canaleta 20, Revilla 17, Digregorio 14, Dehesa 12, Yee 11, Gilchrist 10, Guinto 10, Ramos 9, Pinto 5, Jaime 3.

GLOBALPORT 98 – Romeo 41, Williams 13, Pringle 12, Mamaril 9, Jensen 6, Taha 6, Yeo 4, Semerad 3, Kramer 2, Sumang 2, Maierhofer 0, Peña 0, Uyloan 0.

Quarterscores:  31-23, 60-47, 82-76, 111-98

Second Game

NLEX 114 – Thornton 50, Alas 21, Anthony 15, J. Villanueva 12, Enciso 6, Lanete 3, Taulava 3, Khobuntin 2, E. Villanueva 2, Arboleda 0, Borboran 0, Cardona 0, Reyes 0, Rios 0.

GINEBRA 112 – Jeffers 31, Devance 18, Mercado 15, Caguioa 10, Aguilar 9, Tenorio 9, Marcelo 8, Ellis 5, Thompson 5, Helterbrand 2, Cruz 0. 

Quarterscores: 21-22, 41-51, 73-73, 97-97, 114-112