Deadly backcourt duo powers GlobalPort to much-needed win
Veteran playmaker Alex Cabagnot teamed up with top rookie Stanley Pringle in leading the GlobalPort Batang Pier to a 91-81 win over the Barako Bull Energy Colas yesterday in the 40th PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Cabagnot finished with a game-high 21 points and collared 10 rebounds, while Pringle, the number one overall pick in this year’s Rookie Draft, scattered 19 markers and collected eight rebounds as the Batang Pier barged into the column after dropping their first assignment against the NLEX Road Warriors, 96-101.
Cabagnot and Pringle more than made up for the offensive woes of Terrence Romeo, the other member of GlobalPort’s so-called “Big Three.”
Romeo, who scored 33 points in the team’s sorry loss to NLEX, settled for just nine points on a paltry three-for-14 shooting.
While Cabagnot and Pringle took care of the backcourt scoring, big men Mark Isip and Yancy de Ocampo did their job in the paint and each scored 12.
GlobalPort badly needed the win, especially that there had been rumors that head coach Pido Jarencio is on his way out and Franz Pumaren is set to take over.
It was GlobalPort’s first win in the last nine games dating back to the last conference.
“At least natanggal ang jinx kahit papaano. It was a total team effort. We owe this win to the fans, to the GlobalPort fans. At saka sa management,” Jarencio told pba.inquirer.net, the league’s official website.
Pringle, Cabagnot and Romeo connived for 16 of GlobalPort’s 22 third quarter points, allowing the team to erect a crucial 70-58 lead.
The Energy Colas slumped to their second straight loss after dropping a tough 108-112 double overtime decision against the Meralco Bolts last Wednesday. The team remained winless under new head coach Koy Banal.
Denok Miranda led Barako Bull with 16 points, while RR Garcia, Dave Marcelo and Jeric Fortuna added a combined 34 points.
Meanwhile, Cebuano center June Mar Fajardo piled up 22 points, 15 rebounds and six blocked shots as the San Miguel Beermen earned a piece of the lead with an 87-80 win over the Purefoods Star Hotshots.
San Miguel tied the Barangay Ginebra Kings at number one spot with identical 2-0 (win-loss) cards, while Purefoods remained winless after two games.
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