The GlobalPort Batang Pier is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters at 4:15 P.M. on May 26, 2017 in Alonte Sports Arena, Laguna.
Two teams will attempt to solidify its chance going to the second round of the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Batang Pier needs to do extra effort to push their team up in the standings while the defending champion Rain or Shine still have the chance to take the twice-to-beat advantage during the quarterfinals.
With a lead of as high as 16 points, Barangay Ginebra seems to be having another great night when RoS dueled with them last May 19.
The Elasto Painters got pounded in the first half and couldn’t find an answer for the streaking Justin Brownlee.
However, during the third quarter the momentum shifted and the odds favored with Rain or Shine.
Coach Caloy Garcia inserted Chris Tiu in the lineup and provided the needed energy which RoS longing for in the first half.
But it was really Jericho Cruz who took the unsung hero role for coach Garcia squad. He made a crucial steal from Brownlee late in the fourth quarter which was the dagger of the game.
Cruz finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. That performance was just enough for him to be recognized as the PBA Best Player of the Week.
SEABA is over and it only means that Terrence Romeo will be back to GlobalPort lineup. This time around, he will meet new faces in the names of Justin Harper and Sean Anthony.
After the blockbuster trade, BatangPier looks sharp once again. They have just defeated Alex Stepheson and the Meralco Bolts who owns the top spot when they battled them last May 10.
“As you can see what we needed is a scoring import. somebody that will give us a new dimension in our game,” GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren after the Meralco game. “And of course the new players really helped us,” he added.