GLOBALPORT bounced back from a sorry loss to Barako Bull by venting its ire on a lethargic Barangay Ginebra five, 89-80 in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup main game on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Drawing sparkling efforts from shot-blocking import Justin Williams, newly acquired playmaker Solomon Mercado, Japeth Aguilar and Gary David, the Batang Pier opened a big lead early and managed to hold their ground to keep the King winless after two games in the mid-season conference.
Williams was a picture of consistency for the Batang Pier as he provided the game-long energy that also served to expose the shortcomings of under-fire Ginebra import Herbert Hill.
The 6-9 Williams finished with 23 points, 23 rebounds and a season-high eight block shots to earn Best Player of the Game honors, totally outplaying Hill in what could be the out-of-shape import's penultimate match with the league's most popular ballclub.
“Sol just continued to feed me the ball. We’re coming off a tough loss to Barako (Bull) so we just tried to get back and play hard,” said the high-leaping Williams.
On the other hand, Globalport new coach Junel Baculi said the victory was a morale-booster for a team coming off an 88-98 overtime loss to unbeaten Barako Bull last weekend.
“Ginebra is always tough to beat because of their never-say-die attitude. But at least, we had our version of never quitting,” said Baculi.
“It's unlike our game against Barako where we didn’t play smart. We just played for 47 minutes and 56 seconds. So lessons learned. We bounced back,” he added.
Hill, a disappointment in his debut against Air21, came up with a much better game against Globalport as he finished with a team-high 22 points, 19 rebounds and two blocks.
The 6’9” Hill though will be playing his final game on Sunday against Petron as his replacement, Vernon Macklin, a former NBA D-League player from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, is set to arrive on Monday night (For story on Macklin's arrival, click here).
Mark Caguioa was the only Ginebra local player to score in double figures with 20 points.
Gary David added 22 points for Globalport while Mercado registered his third straight double-double for his new team with 12 markers and 13 assists.
The scores:
Globalport 89 - Williams 23, David 22, Mercado 12, Aguilar 8, Salvador 8, Mandani 6, Miller 5, Deutchman 3, Yee 2, Crisano 0
Brgy Ginebra 80 - Hill 22, Caguioa 20, Baracael 8, Tenorio 8, Hatfield 6, Helterbrand 5, Raymundo 5, Ellis 4, Mamaril 2, Jensen 0, Espiritu 0
Quarterscores: 29-15, 46-38, 67-56, 89-80
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