Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The GlobalPort can’t seem to get back into winning ways.
The NLEX Road Warriors served Batang Pier their sixth consecutive loss, 110-105, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup on Friday (April 1) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Import Al Thornton paced NLEX with 33 markers while Sean Anthony chipped in with 21.
The return of the backcourt duo of Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle was not enough to quell the Road Warriors’ hot start in the game.
After just one period of play, NLEX rushed on to a commanding 35-19 lead and applied the pressure early.
It took almost the entire game for GlobalPort to finally draw level, after Doug Kramer sunk a basket to tie it up at 84-all with 9:14 left to play.
But the Road Warriors were up for the challenge, as they repulsed the GlobalPort run and did not surrender the lead for the entire game.
Guard Terrence Romeo led GlobalPort with 27 points in a losing effort.
Despite letting the Batang Pier claw back from an 18-point deficit, NLEX coach Boyet Fernandez was happy that his team was able to prevent them from taking the lead.
“I give credit to the guys who stuck to the game plan,” said Fernandez. “Even though Terrence and Pringle really played well, we played good defense against them.”
The NLEX Road Warriors climbed to a 5-4 win-loss slate, while Global Port stay rooted at the bottom with 2-7.
