GlobalPort closes in on quarters
Chiefs, Altas for crown, Perpetual eye jrs. title
Games Today (The Arena, San Juan City) 1 p.m. – Letran vs Perpetual (Juniors) 4 p.m. – Arellano vs Perpetual (Men’s)
Arellano U and University of Perpetual Help clash for all the marbles in the deciding Game 3 of NCAA men’s volleyball today at The Arena in San Juan City.
Match is at 4 p.m. with both teams slated to pour everything at the climax of their best-of-three championship series.
Perpetual is expected to ride the momentum of its 26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16 Game 2 victory last Monday to clinch its sixth title since 2010.
Altas coach Sammy Acaylar is concerned, however, of his players’ tendency to be complacent and reiterated the need to become aggressive throughout the match.
GlobalPort blew a double-digit lead for the second straight game, but ended up victorious this time after foiling Kia’s upset bid, 108-91, last night to close in on a quarterfinals berth in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Stanley Pringle ignited a 24-6 windup with back-to-back threes while Sean Anthony also made key baskets in that decisive run to put the Batang Pier on the cusp of making the eight-team playoffs of the season-opening conference.
The run came after GlobalPort lost a 16-point lead that allowed Kia to go ahead, 85-84, on a three-point play by Reden Celda with less than eight minutes remaining.
But Pringle, who had been quiet for most of the contest, fired consecutive threes to bring GlobalPort back in front for good, 90-85, before Anthony scored six of his 21 points down the stretch to help the Batang Pier forge a tie for sixth place with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel at 5-5.
GlobalPort can formalize its entry to the playoffs with a victory over Phoenix in its final elimination
“Hindi na pwedeng ganun, yung magre-relax kapag nakakalamang na kami,” Acaylar said.
Acaylar will bank on Rookie-Most Valuable Player Joebert Almodiel and Best Setter Warren Catipay on its frontline and expects ample support from Rey Taneo, John Patrick Ramos, Ridzuan Muhali and Ronniel Rosales after the four players combined for 49 points in Game 2.
Arellano, for its part, is round assignment on March 2 at the Big Dome.
“It’s a total team effort. Yung team gusto talaga pumasok sa quarters,” said GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio.
While the Batang Pier seems to have an inside track at the playoffs, a victory may put them in a best-of-three series, a chance given to teams which finished third to sixth after the eliminations.
Kelly Nabong had 21 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for GlobalPort, which used a 14-0 run to turn a 32-30 deficit into a 44-32 lead in the second.
But Kia, which dropped to 1-9, rallied behind rookie Jon Gabriel, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Celda with eight of his 20 points in the fourth, only to waste the effort they put up in their comeback.
Anthony 21, Nabong 21, Pringle 15, Sargent 12, Teng 7, Grey 6, Flores 6, Gabayni 6, Guinto 6, Juico 4, Elorde 2, Araña 2, Taha 0. Celda 20, Gabriel 17, McCarthy 14, Camson 12, Jamon 9, Corpuz 5, Tubid 5, Sara 4, Cabrera 3, Yee 2, Lastimosa 0, Galanza 0, Khobuntin 0, Ababou 0. Quarters: 23-26; 51-40; 78-67; 108-91.