MALCOLM White made big plays in the endgame in leading GlobalPort to a rubber match against Rain or Shine on Thursday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
White had a double-double as he had 28 points and 16 rebounds for the Batang Pier, who picked up a 114-113 win over top-seed Elastopainters on Tuesday. The GlobalPort import also made big plays down the stretch.
White dished out a pass to an open Jonathan Grey at the corner for the three-pointer that gave the Batang Pier a one-point lead. The former Louisiana State University standout, White, was also a contributor on the defensive end, blocking a potential game-winning short stab by Reggie Johnson.
“It’s just believing in my teammates and having their confidence,” White said after the game. “I know Jonathan likes to hit that shot, that corner shot. That’s his favorite shot. If I could get the ball and I see him, I told him I’m going to give it to him. And he made that big shot,” said White.
But perhaps more than the statistics was how he kept his focus on the game, knowing how chippy their game between GlobalPort and Rain or Shine was during the elimination round. White was in the middle of controversy during that game when he was accused of intentionally hurting Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu, who suffered a bloody mouth from an elbow by White.
The GlobalPort import paid tribute to his teammates for helping him keep his head in the game, while also stepping up in his absence when he was saddled with five fouls.
“The last game was very physical. But I know going into this game I have to keep my head. I really have to keep my head. So I think overall, the whole team did a good job of keeping my head. It was a good game,” said White.
“It was a big win for us. I know we were down in the game, but we just kept fighting. We never go into the game thinking that we're going to lose until the buzzer sounds. Hats off to my teammates. When I got into foul trouble and went out, Stanley, he stepped up, my teammates stepped up and made plays offensively and defensively,” said White.
White hopes he and his team plays the same way when GlobalPort and Rain or Shine meet again on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We just gotta bring the same intensity we brought the whole game. We gotta run the floor, play hard, and believe in each other,” said White.