Enforcers seek second win, test mettle vs Batang Pier

Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:15 p.m. – Globalport vs Mahindra

7 p.m. – Tropang TNT vs Rain or Shine

MANILA, Philippines – Mahindra tangles with Globalport, seeking a follow-up on its winning start under coach Chris Gavina while Commissioner’s Cup champ Rain or Shine and perennial contender Tropang TNT face each other in their maiden game in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday night.

The Enforcers and the Batang Pier clash at 4:15 p.m. then the Elasto Painters and the Texters collide at 7 p.m.

Through five extra minutes, the Mahindra Enforcers, led by import James White, pulled off a 100-92 reversal over the Star Hotshots and old champion import Marqus Blakely on opening night of the season-ending tourney Friday.

White, LA Revilla, Aldrech Ramos and KG Canaleta played big at crunch time, handing Gavina a triumphant PBA coaching debut. He used to be just skills and conditioning coach for Globalport then Mahindra.

The Batang Pier, meanwhile, succumbed on the inspired game of the Ginebra locals in the payoff quarter and went down to an 81-93 loss Saturday.

But despite that loss, the Batang Pier set out the favorites versus the Enforcers with their solid lineup led by the triumvirate of Dominique Sutton, Stanley Pringle and Terrence Romeo.

Rain or Shine and Tropang TNT engage in a marquee matchup in the day’s other game.

“We need to start strong and get back our winning attitude,” said TNT coach Jong Uichico, wary of the RoS side which has never finished outside the Top Four in each of the last nine PBA tourneys.

The most consistent team in the league in the last few years, Rain or Shine likes its chance for a second straight championship with its intact local lineup reinforced by an import with a better all-around skills than the one that helped the Elasto Painters rule the recent PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

“I think we’ve got the right import fit for us. We were successful with (Pierre) Henderson-Niles, having a big guy who’s a threat at the post, who can defend bigs. (Dior) Lowhorn is a bigger threat, at least offensively than Henderson-Niles,” said Guiao.

Lowhorn, a PBA veteran with previous tours of duty with Barangay Ginebra and Globalport, plays his maiden game with Rain or Shine versus TNT’s regular import Mario Little and Asian reinforcement Michel Madanly.

Henderson-Niles had limited offensive skills but showcased defensive and rebounding prowess in helping the E-Painters get past the Barangay Ginebra Kings, San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Milk Aces in the Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

The E-Painters reigned supreme in the mid-season tourney despite a meager average of 9.6 points by their import. Lowhorn, meanwhile, normed 30.1 points on 56-percent shooting on top of 11.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists with Ginebra and Globalport.

But Tropang TNT is also a mean team with Gilas players Jayson Castro, Ranidel de Ocampo, Ryan Reyes and Troy Rosario who will be teaming up with Little and Madanly, a one-time scoring champ in the FIBA Asia Championship.