Grey scores winner as GlobalPort extends series vs ROS

FILE: Grey hit the go-ahead triple with 11 seconds left as the eighth-seeded Batang Pier, with a once-to-beat disadvantage, turned back the top-seeded Elasto Painters to force another game on Thursday night for a spot in the semifinals. (Photo: PBA/Facebook)

MANILA — Jonathan Grey saved GlobalPort as the squad forced a sudden-death match in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against Rain Or Shine, with a 114-113 win, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Grey hit the go-ahead triple with 11 seconds left as the eighth-seeded Batang Pier, with a once-to-beat disadvantage, turned back the top-seeded Elasto Painters to force another game on Thursday night for a spot in the semifinals.

But that ensued after the Elasto Painters failed to put away the game.

Following a Gabe Norwood layup with 1:31 left, ROS was up, 112-110, even as Grey could only muster a split from the line in the next play.

However, Maverick Ahanmisi missed two free throws that could have stretched the team’s lead to three.

The team still got a chance to stretch the lead when Sean Anthony was out of bounds with 17 seconds to go.

Ahanmisi, however, missed another free throw and could only go 1-for-2 in his next trip to the free throw line as the E-Painters held on to a 113-11 cushion with 16 seconds left.

Malcolm White then found Grey from beyond the arc for the eventual game-winner.

ROS still had three chances to steal the win, but Norwood missed a triple, Reggie Johnson’s lay-in was blocked by White, and Ahanmisi missed another three as the buzzer sounded.

Grey’s game-winner capped a 22-point performance from him to backstop White’s 28 even as Stanley Pringle flirted with a triple-double after making 21 markers, nine rebounds, and nine assists with one steal for GlobalPort.

Johnson finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists, one block, and one steal for ROS.