Shifty guard Terrence Romeo torched the net for a career-high 41 points but the GlobalPort Batang Pier failed to avoid the upset axe and yielded to the Mahindra Enforcers, 98-111, yesterday in the 41st PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Araneta Coliseum.
Mahindra survived Romeo’s offensive explosion behind a telling 15-4 run that saw the Enforcers turning a shaky 92-89 lead to a fat 107-94 advantage with only 1:15 left.
Niño Canaleta celebrated his 35th birthday on a winning note as he powered the Enfocers with 20 points on a 4-of-6 shooting from the three-point land.
Import Augustus Gilchrist only scored 10 points but the Mahindra locals were close at hand to provide the needed scoring.
LA Revilla scored 17, Mike DiGregorio scattered 14, Karl Dehesa donated 12, seven of which he scored in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Mark was the fifth Enforcer to score in twin digits with 11 points.
While Mahindra got ample production from their locals, Stanley Pringle was the only other GlobalPort local to score in twin digits with 12.
Import Brian Williams had a so-so performance after scoring just 13 markers although he had 16 rebounds and five assists.
THE SCORES
MAHINDRA (111) – Canaleta 20, Revilla 17, DiGregorio 14, Dehesa 12, Yee 11, Gilchrist 10, Guinto 10, Ramos 9, Pinto 5, Jaime 3.
GLOBALPORT (98) – Romeo 41, Williams 13, Pringle 12, Mamaril 9, Jensen 6, Taha 6, Yeo 4, Semerad 3, Kramer 2, Sumang 2, Maierhofer 0, Pena 0, Uyloan 0.
QUARTER SCORES: 31-23, 60-47, 82-76, 111-98.