BPier blow hot, cold but win

Games today (Ynares-Antipolo)

3 p.m. – NLEX vs Phoenix

5:15 p.m. – San Miguel vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines - GlobalPort went through a rough rollercoaster ride against Rain or Shine before pulling off a 107-101 win to catch up with Phoenix Petroleum at eighth place in the homestretch of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations last night at the Alonte Sports Arena in Biñan, Laguna.

The Batang Pier blew a 16-point bulge in the second quarter but hung on before unleashing a decisive flurry to finish off the Elasto Painters and salvage a fourth win in 10 games.

Justin Harper and Terrence Romeo, returning fresh in the last five minutes, led the way in a vicious endgame attack that foiled the Elasto Painters’ attempt at an outright playoff entry.

The E-Painters were stalled at 5-5, with Alaska Milk right behind them at 4-5 and the Fuel Masters and the Batang Pier at 4-6.

Upon re-entry, Harper and Romeo nailed back-to-back treys to spark their 19-6 closing romp, and the Batang Pier went on to notch a second straight win since bringing in Harper as their third import in the mid-season tourney.

Romeo checked a personal slump, firing away four three-pointers and 26 points while Harper collected 19 points including three treys plus 10 rebounds, two assists and one steal against five turnovers.

GlobalPort beat out Rain or Shine in a fierce shootout where Romeo and his teammates struck a total of 17 triples as against the 12 of James Yap (6-of-10) and his pals.

Yap drained two of his six treys in their onslaught midway through the fourth,  enabling the E-Painters to seize control at 94-86.

Sensing danger, GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren finally brought back in Harper who sat out almost a quarter after incurring a fifth foul halfway through the third.

Harper made up for  lost time.

After scoring a triple, Harper canned in a pair of charities that shoved GlobalPort ahead to stay at 98-97 with 1:57 left to play.

Fresh trade recruits Sean Anthony and Bradwyn Guinto lent a hand as the Batang Pier chalked up crucial back-to-back triumphs.

In the nightcap, Barangay Ginebra also banked on a strong finish as it thwarted Blackwater, 96-82, to inch closer to clinching a twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.

Justin Brownlee, LA Tenorio, Mark Caguioa and Sol Mercado got the team to a blazing windup en route to their seventh win against two losses.

The scores: 

First Game

GLOBALPORT 107 – Romeo 26, Harper 19, Pringle 15, Anthony 15, Pessumal 9, Cortez 8, Maierhofer 3, Mamaril 2, Forrester 2, Grey 2, Paredes 0. 

RAIN OR SHINE 101 – Crews 23, Yap 22, Cruz 14, Chan 10, Tiu 6, Belga 4, Tolomia 3, Norwood 2, Ahanmisi 0. 

Quarterscores: 27-14, 48-44, 75-73, 107-101

Second Game

GINEBRA 96 – Brownlee 35, Tenorio 17, Aguilar 15, Mercado 9, Caguioa 8, Mariano 5, Marcelo 3, Taha 2, Cruz 2, Ferrer 0, Thompson 0, Ellis 0. 

BLACKWATER 82 – Smith 37, Digregorio 18, Pinto 7, Pascual 5, Buenafe 4, Sena 4, Cruz 2, Gamalinda 2, Aguilar 2, Cervantes 1, Perez 0, Canaleta 0, Banal 0, Sumang 0.

Quarterscores: 22-23, 43-43, 65-62, 96-82