Terrence Romeo of GlobalPort maneuvers against the defense of Mahindra’s Karl Dehesa. (PBA IMAGES)
Games today
Araneta Coliseum
3:00 p.m.- Barako Bull vs. Star
5:15 p.m.- NLEX vs. Barangay Ginebra
Terrence Romeo struggled mightily from the three-point land but found his shooting touch at the most opportune time as he pumped in critical points to lift the GlobalPort Batang Pier to a 118-116 overtime win over the hard-fighting Mahindra Enforcers yesterday in the 41st PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Romeo missed his first 12 attempts from the three-point territory but ended the drought with a dagger of a three-pointer that tied the contest at 116-all with 29.8 seconds left in overtime.
After an empty Mahindra possession, Romeo completed a coast-to-coast layup, that put the Batang Pier ahead, 118-116, with 3.3 seconds remaining.
The Enforcers couldn’t get a clear shot at the basket in the game’s final play allowing the Batang Pier to escape.
“Wala kang masasabi sa bata,” GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio said of Romeo, who finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Romeo scored eight of his total points in the extra five-minute session.
“He just kept on shooting hanggang makuha nya yung kailangan na three-points. Dun na sya sa huli pumutok. Nakakabilib din kasi di sya nawalan ng kumpyansa,” added Jarencio.
By pocketing their fourth straight win and seventh overall in 10 games, the Batang Pier secured a crucial twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round.
Stanley Pringle also delivered for the Batang Pier as he finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, seven assists. Jay Washington pitched in 12 points and eight rebounds.
Mahindra came close to stealing the win when it led, 103-101, with 10.7 ticks left in regulation but Pringle hit a buzzer-beating jumper that forced the extra session.
The Enforcers, who dropped to 2-8 (win-loss), 24 points from Aldrech Ramos.
Karl Dehesa tallied 23 markers, eight assists, and five steals, while Mike DiGregorio contributed 19 markers.
Meanwhile, the defending champions San Miguel Beermen stayed hot, snatching a seventh straight win with a 97-84 win over the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.
Arwind Santos fired 30 points, while Cebuano center June Mar Fajardo added 22 markers as the Beermen tightened their hold of the number one spot with their ninth victory in 10 games.
Jayson Castro finished with 20 points for the Tropang Texters, who dropped to 5-4.
THE SCORES
FIRST GAME
GLOBALPORT (118) – Pringle 29, Romeo 29, Mamaril 12, Washington 12, Yeo 11, Kramer 10, Semerad 7, Maierhofer 6, Uyloan 2, Pena 0, Sumang 0.
MAHINDRA (116) – Ramos 24, Dehesa 23, DiGregorio 19, Yee 14, Guinto 11, Pascual 9, Canaleta 6, Laure 5, Pinto 4, Bagatsing 1, Hubalde 0.
SECOND GAME
SAN MIGUEL (97)- Santos 30, Fajardo 22, Cabagnot 21, Lutz 12, Espinas 4, Heruela 3, Tubid 3, De Ocampo 2, Arana 0, Lassiter 0, Ross 0.
TALK ‘N TEXT (84) – Castro 20, Rosario 17, Tautuaa 14, Williams 12, Reyes 7, Miranda 5, Carey 4, Fonacier 3, Rosser 2, Aban 0.