GLOBALPORT made sure there won’t be any fourth-quarter meltdown, relying on the brilliant playmaking of rookie Stanley Pringle to beat a tough Barako Bull side, 91-81 for its first victory in the 2014-15 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Pringle, the top rookie pick in the last rookie draft, scattered 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and issued two assists in an all-around game that enabled the Batang Pier to bounce back from a sorry 101-96 meltdown against newcomer NLEX Road Warriors last Tuesday.
Now it remains to be seen if the win could bring GlobalPort to life and save the job of Pido Jarencio, who admits feeling the pressure amid reports that the team is looking to tap former La Salle coach Franz Pumaren in his place.
“Regarding sa pressure, sanay na tayo 'dun. Humawak ka lang ng team, nandiyan ang pressure lagi, pero ang iniisip ko lang lagi, huwag lang magkulang sa ginagawa ko,” Jarencio said.
Jarencio accepted the blame for that loss to NLEX but commended his boys for playing with poise this time, singling out Pringle, the Fil-American guard out of Penn State, as well as veterans Alex Cabagnot and Isip, who made the key baskets in the end.
“It’s a total team effort today. Our loss against NLEX, there are lessons learned. May mga mistakes, totally ako yung nagkamali dun,” he added.
The victory was just the third overall of Globalport under Jarencio, who assumed the coaching post before the start of last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Jarencio compiled a 2-16 win-loss record during his first two conferences with the team last season.
Cabagnot led the Batang Pier (1-1) with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Isip and 6-8 veteran big man Yancy de Ocampo also gave a big lift after scoring 12 points apiece.
Barako Bull fell to 0-2 despite drawing 16 points from Dennis Miranda, while former GlobalPort guard RR Garcia and Dave Marcello chipped in 12 points each.
The scores:
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