Romeo's Big Game Tows GlobalPort over TNT

Terrence Romeo - 30 pts. (Best Player of the Game)

The GlobalPort Batang Pier picked up their first ever win over Talk ‘N Text in franchise history after a lights-out shooting performance in the fourth quarter that gave them a 105-97 victory on Tuesday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

GlobalPort hit seven three-pointers in the fourth period, two each from Terrence Romeo and No. 1 pick Stanley Pringle and three from Ronjay Buenafe, as the Batang Pier tied the Tropang Texters at 4-3.

Romeo exploded for 30 points on 5-for-9 shooting from three-point range and 9-for-10 from the free throw line. He scored 13 of his total in the fourth period, where the Batang Pier outscored their opponents, 35-21.

Four other Batang Pier players finished in double figures.

Buenafe, Pringle and Mark Isip each scored 13 while Alex Cabagnot had 10 points and a team-high eight assists in the win.

It was the first win for the GlobalPort franchise over Talk ‘N Text since it entered the league in the 2012-2013 season.

Romeo, who was struggling with a shooting slump prior to the game, broke out in the first half. He scored on a tough, twisting reverse layup to close the first period and knocked down a three-pointer at the top of the second as part of a 10-0 GlobalPort run bridging the first two quarters.

The Batang Pier led by as much as 11 points, 27-16, early in the second.

But Talk ‘N Text’s shooters put it together as they charge right back to tie the ballgame at 29-apiece, with Ranidel De Ocampo, Ryan Reyes and Jayson Castro all hitting from beyond the arc.

GlobalPort led by two points, 41-39, at the halftime break with Romeo leading all scorers with 13 points.

Talk ‘N Text captain Jimmy Alapag changed the complexion of the game in the third quarter.

He checked into the game for the first time at the 8:54 mark with his Tropang Texters trailing by seven, 51-44. But he made his presence felt almost immediately, passing to longtime teammate De Ocampo and giving a simple screen to help set up a basket.

The ‘Mighty Mouse’ would later score six straight points on a three-pointer and three free throws after he was fouled taking another three.

He then found a cutting Harvey Carey for a layup, kicking off a stretch where Carey scored eight of Talk ‘N Text’s next 10 points. The last basket of the stretch, a midrange jumper by Carey from the left wing, capped a 25-10 run for the team from the moment Alapag entered.

Talk ‘N Text led 76-70 at the end of the third.

But it was GlobalPort dominating the final period, at one point scoring 12 unanswered points to take a double-digit lead, 101-91.

The scores:

GLOBALPORT 105 – Romeo 30, Pringle 13, Buenafe 13, Isip 13, Cabagnot 10, Taha 9, Jensen 8, Ponferada 4, Cabrera 3, Baclao 2, Pinto 0, de Ocampo 0, Caperal 0, Semerad 0.

TALK N’ TEXT 97 – Carey 24, De Ocampo 23, Castro 11, Reyes Ryan 9, Alapag 8, Washington 7, Rosser 6, Fonacier 5, Reyes Rob 4, Alas 0, Seigle 0, Aban 0, Espiritu 0, Aguilar 0.

Quarterscores: 24-16, 41-39, 70-76, 105-97