GlobalPort holds off RoS

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Washington tipped in his own miss for the go-ahead basket as GlobalPort topped Rain or Shine, 101-99, to sustain its resurgence and close in further on the leaders in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ibalong Centrum in Legazpi, Albay last night.

The Elasto Painters had a chance to force an extra period but Dior Lowhorn came up short on his power play at the paint in the closing seconds, allowing the Batang Pier to escape with a third straight victory after a woeful 0-4 start in the tourney.

Terrence Romeo erupted for 33 points while Mike Glover and Stanley Pringle added 18 and 16, respectively, in the Petron Blaze Saturday Special as the Batang Pier kept their surge to catch up with the E-Painters and the Phoenix Fuel Masters at sixth place.

From joint second, the E-Painters crashed out of the top five with three losses (against Meralco, Barangay Ginebra and GlobalPort) in their last four outings.

Meanwhile, Barangay Ginebra, back on the winning track after a 101-87 spanking of Rain or Shine a week ago, seeks to go on a run again as it tangles with the badly struggling Star squad today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings and the Hotshots clash in their keenly awaited Manila Classico match at 6:45 p.m. with the former out to nail a win that will assure them of an outright playoff entry.

Already in the fringes of the playoffs, the Gin Kings hope to finish strong in the elims to land a spot in the Top Four for a twice to beat in the quarterfinals.

The Hotshots, at 1-5, are now practically fighting for survival.

“As history shows, the standings don’t mean anything when it comes to the Manila Classico. Both teams come and leave it all on the floor and we’re not expecting anything less,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

Alaska Milk (2-5) and Blackwater (1-6) are also trying to avoid elimination as they square off in today’s other game at 4:30 p.m.

With a 16-7 advantage on points off turnovers, the E-Painters took the half at 54-48.

The Batang Pier committed 19 errors, taking some luster on Romeo’s 22-point first-half explosion. Romeo, Glover, Pringle and Joseph Yeo accounted for three errors each.

But Romeo and his teammates settled down in the second half and stayed right behind the E-Painters before stealing the game at the finish.

Down by five at 92-97, Glover, Romeo and Yousef Taha made a basket each as the Batang Pier spurted ahead at 98-97 with time down to 1:08.

But Beau Belga, a proud son of the nearby Sorsogon province, answered quickly with a perimeter basket as ROS regained the upper hand, 99-98.

In the next sequence, ROS put up a good defense, putting GlobalPort under pressure needing to make an attempt with 1.9 ticks left in the shot clock.

Washington missed a short stab on a perfect throw-in by Romeo but then beat everybody for the tip-in to push the Batang Pier ahead.

A Jericho Cruz miss from beyond the arc was followed by a split from the line by Taha for the final count.