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| PBA |
By Ivan Saldajeno
PASAY--The last time Alaska and GlobalPort met, Terrence Romeo exploded but Alaska succeeded in containing his teammates to score the blowout win.
On Monday night, Romeo sizzled again, but this time it was Alaska that got contained.
Romeo opened PBA's 2016 festivities by scoring a career-high 41 points and the Batang Pier scored a win in their first semifinal with a 107-93 clobbering of the Aces at the start of their best-of-seven Philippine Cup semis series at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Romeo actually started the game hot, helping GlobalPort build a 24-6 cushion in the first quarter.
But Alaska began to claw back just as Coach Pido Jarencio gave his star combo guard a rest, drawing to within three, 29-32, in the second quarter.
Romeo then helped the Batang Pier restore control, capping a 22-point first half with a buzzer-beating follow-up to give them a 52-42 halftime cushion.
He would again catch fire in the third period, scoring eight straight points early in the period to reopen their largest lead at 18, 62-44.
The Aces, however, outscored the Batang Pier, 29-17, later in the third to come to within six, 73-79.
GlobalPort still maintained its composure in the end, restoring a 14-point cushion in the fourth quarter and quickly extinguished Alaska's mini-rallies to seal the win.
Romeo completed his eclipsing of his 40-point output in Dubai last season by scoring the Batang Pier's last nine points including a dagger off-the-glass triple with 43.6 seconds left in the match.
Romeo also had two rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block even as fellow scoring guard Stanley Pringle added 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a block.
Cyrus Baguio led Alaska, who played for the first time since Dec. 16, with 15 points, one rebound, and three assists.
Box Scores:
GlobalPort 107-Romeo 41, Pringle 14, Jensen 12, Mamaril 12, Kramer 6, Semerad 6, Washington 6, Yeo 5, Maierhofer 4, Sumang 1, Pena 0
Alaska 93-Baguio 15, Jazul 14, Manuel 14, Abueva 12, Thoss 12, Banchero 8, Menk 8, Casio 5, Hontiveros 3, Baclao 2, Dela Cruz 0, Dela Rosa 0, Exciminiano 0
Quarterscores: 29-18, 52-42, 82-74, 107-93
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
But Alaska began to claw back just as Coach Pido Jarencio gave his star combo guard a rest, drawing to within three, 29-32, in the second quarter.
Romeo then helped the Batang Pier restore control, capping a 22-point first half with a buzzer-beating follow-up to give them a 52-42 halftime cushion.
He would again catch fire in the third period, scoring eight straight points early in the period to reopen their largest lead at 18, 62-44.
The Aces, however, outscored the Batang Pier, 29-17, later in the third to come to within six, 73-79.
GlobalPort still maintained its composure in the end, restoring a 14-point cushion in the fourth quarter and quickly extinguished Alaska's mini-rallies to seal the win.
Romeo completed his eclipsing of his 40-point output in Dubai last season by scoring the Batang Pier's last nine points including a dagger off-the-glass triple with 43.6 seconds left in the match.
Romeo also had two rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block even as fellow scoring guard Stanley Pringle added 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and a block.
Cyrus Baguio led Alaska, who played for the first time since Dec. 16, with 15 points, one rebound, and three assists.
Box Scores:
GlobalPort 107-Romeo 41, Pringle 14, Jensen 12, Mamaril 12, Kramer 6, Semerad 6, Washington 6, Yeo 5, Maierhofer 4, Sumang 1, Pena 0
Alaska 93-Baguio 15, Jazul 14, Manuel 14, Abueva 12, Thoss 12, Banchero 8, Menk 8, Casio 5, Hontiveros 3, Baclao 2, Dela Cruz 0, Dela Rosa 0, Exciminiano 0
Quarterscores: 29-18, 52-42, 82-74, 107-93
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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