Globalport gets back on winning track, hands Meralco’s fourth straight loss

League-leading scorer Terrence Romeo then took matters in his hands in the fourth to lift his squad to its fourth win of the conference, finishing with 27 points, 12 of which came in the final quarter. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines

By: Patrick Sutare

PASAY—Just over a week after a forgettable fourth quarter meltdown against Phoenix, Globalport regained its form to get back into their winning ways, holding off Meralco, 97-89, as the PBA Philippine Cup resumes on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena and start the year on a high note.

Their previous loss serving as gut-punching lesson, the Batang Pier warded off yet another collapse in the second half, stepping on the gas pedal in the payoff period to walk away with the win and buck a three-game slide.

They led by as much as 16 midway the first half, 40-24, before seeing it trimmed by Meralco’s Jonathan Grey and Ed Daquioag to just one at the end of the third, 72-71.

League-leading scorer Terrence Romeo then took matters in his hands in the fourth to lift his squad to its fourth win of the conference. He finished with 27 points, 12 of which came in the final quarter.

KG Canaleta added 13, while Billy Mamaril and Mike Cortez both had 12.

Despite five guys breaking into double-digit scoring, the Bolts struggled to break out of slump, the loss putting them at a dangerous spot at the team standings with a 2-5 record.

Reynel Hugnatan caught fire early but was rather silenced down the stretch. He paced the Bolts with 23 markers along with five boards.

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 97 - Romeo 27, Canaleta 13, Mamaril 12, Cortez 12, Quinahan 11, Pringle 9, Aban 9, Maierhofer 2, Paredes 2 , Banal 0 , Urbiztondo 0, Pessumal 0
MERALCO 89 - Hugnatan 23, Grey 18, Newsome 16, Hodge 12, Daquioag 12, Buenafe 3, Faundo 2, Caram 2, Amer 1, Uyloan 0, Nabong 0, Ferriols 0
Quarterscores: 26-19, 51-41, 72-71, 97-89
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