MANILA — No Mo Tautuaa? No problem.
GlobalPort won sans its newly-acquired center, subduing Meralco, 86-85, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday night.
WithTautuaa serving the suspension he got during the previous day’s game, the Batang Pier still found a way to contain the Bolts’ import, Arinze Onuaku.
However, GlobalPort had to hold on following a wild finish.
Up by eight, 77-69, midway through the fourth quarter, the team found itself just holding to a precarious one-point lead, 83-82, with 42 seconds left.
Meralco, however, failed to complete its comeback as back-to-back turnovers hampered its bid, even as GlobalPort’s Stanley Pringle converted free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Malcolm White tallied 27 points, 17 rebounds, one assist, and two blocks while limiting Onuaku to only 21 points.
Pringle added 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block, even as Sean Anthony tallied 15 points, seven boards, and two dimes as both players bucked off an error-prone game and helped the Batang Pier tie their opponents at 1-1.
KG Canaleta fired seven triples to finish with 28 markers for Meralco.
The scores:
Globalport 86: White 27, Pringle 17, Anthony 15, Arana 7, Nabong 6, Grey 5, Teng 3, Viernes 2, Elorde 2, Gabayni 2, Guinto 0
Meralco 85: Canaleta 28, Onuaku 21, Newsome 9, Caram 9, Amer 8, Hodge 6, Salva 2, Hugnatan 2, Sedurifa 0, Dillinger 0
Quarters: 23-25, 45-44, 63-65, 86-85