GlobalPort, Anthony spoil Blackwater bid; RoS wins

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Alaska vs Columbian Dyip 7 p.m. – Meralco vs NLEX

ANTIPOLO – GlobalPort foiled Blackwater’s bid for an instant result following a coaching change, riding high on Sean Anthony’s 21-point second-half explosion in fashioning out a 117-106 romp in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center here last night.

Anthony actually churned out a near tripledouble job with 29 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, and anchored GlobalPort key runs on the way to their second straight win after a losing conference debut against former main man Terrence Romeo and his new team TNT KaTropa.

Playing their first game under new coach Bong Ramos, the Elite showed a good promise in the early goings only to blow away a 12-point lead and stay on a skid with a fourth straight loss in the mid-season tourney.

“We didn’t expect them to do new things with a one-game preparation with their new coach. One new thing they did was to press, but we broke their defense. We found a solution to their press then we got into a good flow,” said GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio.

Jay Washington delivered 10 points off the bench in the last eight minutes and Rain or Shine stole NLEX’s crucial final possession to pull off a 98-97 squeaker in the nightcap.

“I was telling the boys just always be ready when you’re tapped to play. I played Jay Washington only at endgame but he made the biggest baskets,” said coach Caloy Garcia on Washington’s heroics in their third win in as many games in the mid-season tourney.

NOTES: Sean Anthony missed by two assists what could have been a first triple-double job in 15 years by a local big man. Local players who came through with triple-double feats in recent years were guards like Scottie Thompson, Chris Ross, Jvee Casio, Willie Miller and Jayjay Helterbrand. The scores: First Game GlobalPort 117 – Anthony 29, White 28, Pringle 26, Tautuaa 14, Elorde 6, Grey 5, Araña 4, Guinto 3, Sargent 2, Teng 0, Gabayni 0, Viernes 0.

Blackwater 106 – Famous 41, DiGregorio 19, Belo 11, Erram 11, Sumang 10, Sena 7, Maliksi 5, Marcelo 2, Cruz 0, Pinto 0. Quarterscores: 30-35, 62-64, 97-81, 117-106 Second Game RAIN OR SHINE 98 – Johnson 27, Tiu 12, Washington 10, Almazan 12, Norwood 9, Belga 7, Yap 5, Nambatac 4, Ponferada 3, Onwubere 3, Casiño 2, Ahanmisi 2, Daquioag 2.

NLEX 97 – Moultrie 24, Quiñahan 23, Ravena 23, Soyud 10, Tiongson 5, Monfort 3, Ighalo 3, Mallari 3, Taulava 0, Rios 0, Miranda 0, Gotladera 0, Buenafe 0.

Quarterscores: 23-22, 45-46, 72-77, 98-97