White, Mahindra snatch second win

MANILA, Philippines – Unheralded young import James White churned out another impressive performance with 28 points and 20 rebounds as Mahindra posted a first-ever 2-0 win-loss tournament start with a 108-98 drubbing of GlobalPort in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

White, the youngest in the current roster of PBA imports at 22, asserted himself in the final quarter, igniting a key 12-to-nothing run in the homestretch that carried the Enforcers to joint lead with the Meralco Bolts.

The former Georgia Tech stalwart came through with 22 markers and eight boards, leading Mahindra to a 100-92 upset of the Star Hotshots and champion import Marqus Blakely in the tournament opener Friday.

“James White is just scratching the bottom of the barrel right now. He doesn’t realize how good he can be,” said coach Chris Gavina believing the PBA hasn’t seen the best yet of the Mahindra import.

“Coach Joe (Lipa) has designed drills for James where we ask him ‘don’t pass the ball no more.’ He’s starting to realize he can do it. His confidence is growing every single day,” Gavina added.

Against GlobalPort, White stood his ground against comebacking import Dominique Sutton, showing him up at the finish.

The absence of Terrence Romeo due to a stomach upset didn’t help the Batang Pier who fell to their second straight loss following a defeat at the hands of the Barangay Ginebra Kings over at the MOA Arena in Pasay City Saturday.

The two teams actually engaged in a nip-and-tuck battle but the Enforcers pulled through with a double-digit margin on their decisive 12-0 attack from a precarious 94-92 lead.

Iranian import Iman Zandi Mashaddy, Aldrech Ramos and Keith Agovida teamed up with White in their crucial endgame flurry that enabled the Columbian Motors franchise to notch a first 2-0 start in a conference since joining the league in 2014.

Tropang TNT blew away a 15-point bulge then came charging back from a 14-point deficit to carve out a 101-98 victory over Commissioner’s Cup titlist Rain or Shine in the nightcap.

Jayson Castro top scored with 19 points including the marginal three-pointer in their triumphant debut in the season-ending tourney.