Batang Pier put away Kia to remain in q'final hunt

Kelly Nabong scored 10 points in the first quarter before finishing with 21. PBA Media Bureau

By JP Abcede

MANILA--The GlobalPort Batang Pier beat the Kia Picanto, 108-91, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to remain in the running for a playoff spot at the 2017-18 PBA Philippine Cup.

The Batang Pier held Kia to 14 points in the second period to take control of the contest before registering the biggest margin at the conclusion.

Nevertheless, Reden Celda temporarily gave the Picanto the upper hand, 85-84 at 7:58 of the final quarter, before GlobalPort unleashed a 20-3 rally to lock their fifth win in ten games.

"It is a total team effort. Yung team, gusto talagang makapasok sa quarters," said GBP coach Pido Jarencio. "Yung standing namin, maganda na. Focus tayo sa Phoenix, and then tignan natin kung ano yung mga mangyayaring scenario."

Kelly Nabong and Sean Anthony shared topscoring honors for the victors with 21 points. The burly Nabong had a double-double afternoon as he also had 13 rebounds, while also rejecting five Kia attempts. Anthony shot 50 percent at the field and finished with eight rebounds and four steals.

Other double figure scorers for the Batang Pier are Stanley Pringle with 15 and Julian Sargent with 12.

Meanwhile, Kia, which still only has a single win this conference, was led by Celda with 20 markers.

Jon Jon Gabriel came up with 17 off the bench, while starters Rashawn McCarthy and Eric Camson had 14 and 12 respectively.

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 108 - 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.

KIA 91 - 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.

Quarterscores: 23-26, 51-40, 78-67, 108-91

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