Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Terrence Romeo played a starring role for the GlobalPort Batang Pier as they handed Barangay Ginebra their second loss, 91-84, in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Romeo paced the Batang Pier with 35 markers.
A fairly well contested opening period saw GlobalPort take a slim 23-22 advantage over Ginebra into the second frame, before cranking up their level of play.
The Batang Pier went on scintillating 19-0 run to open up a 44-26 lead in the second quarter, before closing out the first half with a 53-36 lead.
But Barangay Ginebra refused to bow down, as they went on a run of their own to level the scores in the third period, 65-all.
GlobalPort had the answers all night though, as they held off the Ginebra fight back with a 7-2 run to open the payoff period to regain the lead, 75-67.
A Sol Mercado trey brought Ginebra as close as 87-82 with 2:29 left to play, but the Batang Pier would hold on and seal the victory.
LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar led Ginebra with 23 points apiece in a losing effort.
The Gin Kings slide to a 1-2 win-loss slate in the Philippine Cup, while GlobalPort improves to a 3-1 record.
Ginebra look to get back on the winning track when they take on the winless Mahindra Floodbuster on Friday, while GlobalPort gun for another win when they take on the Blackwater Elite on December 21.
