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| PBA |
By Ivan Saldajeno
ANTIPOLO--Based on the trend of the games in the PBA season, a team needs to win at least six games to make it to the quarterfinal round outright.
Blackwater, however, said, "Why not make the magic number five?"
Blackwater shut the door on GlobalPort's hopes of making the next round of the Governors' Cup with a 118-107 win at the Ynares Center on Sunday night, effectively giving the victor a quarterfinal berth, only its second time in franchise history.
The result also eliminated Alaska from playoff contention and lifted Star, which is playing TNT as of posting, and Rain Or Shine to the playoffs, thereby completing the Elite 8 cast.
In a stormy day here, the Elite provided a storm of their own from downtown, dropping 15 triples, including 13 in the first three quarters that helped them open a lead of as high as 21 points before settling for a 92-77 cushion after three.
Despite playing sans Terrence Romeo, who got ejected just before halftime, the Batang Pier showed heart, drawing to within six, the last at 107-113 with under two minutes left.
But Henry Walker delivered in the clutch, scoring on a tough layup and assisting on a Poy Erram fadeaway that kept the Batang Pier at bay.
Allein Maliksi quickly made a statement in his Blackwater debut, leading the team with 22 points on 7-of-12 shootiing, five rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
"Naninibago pa [siya sa system] pero impressive," Coach Leo Isaac commended his new acquisition after the game.
Roi Sumang also sizzled with 21 markers on 8-of-12 shooting with five treys, two rebounds, four dimes, and four steals.
Walker came close to a triple-double, tallying 19 points, 13 caroms, and nine assists, but he achieved a 5x5 as he exactly got five steals and five blocks as well.
Murphey Holloway tallied 28 points, 23 boards, one dime, one block, and three steals, while Stanley Pringle added 27 markers, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one swat for GlobalPort.
Box Scores:
Blackwater 118-Maliksi 22, Sumang 21, Walker 19, Digregorio 16, Marcelo 13, Erram 11, Belo 8, Pinto 8, Canaleta 0, Cruz 0.
GlobalPort 107-Holloway 28, Pringle 27, Romeo 13, Baracael 11, Anthony 8, Guinto 6, Cortez 6, Arana 4, Cardona 4, Hubalde 0, Mamaril 0.
Quarterscores: 31-29, 62-50, 92-77, 118-107
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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