Saudi Gazette MANILA — The NLEX Road Warriors raced to an early double-digit lead and warded off every challenge en route to a 110-105 victory over the GlobalPort Batang Pier Friday night in the PBA Commissioner's Cup. The Road Warriors thus nailed their fifth win in nine games, tying three other teams—TNT, Ginebra and Rain or Shine—at fourth to seventh place in the team standings. Not even the return of GlobalPort's elite backcourt partners Terrence Romeo and Stanley Pringle from sick bay could prevent the Batang Pier from tumbling to their seventh loss in nine games to remain at the bottom of the pack. Al Thornton was his usual dominating self, finishing with 33 points, 19 rebounds, and six assists in 42.54 minutes on the floor. Sean Anthony came off the bench to unload 21 points while Kevin Alas added 18. Ageless Asi Taulava chipped in 13 markers and nine boards while Jonas Villanueva and Garvo Lanete scored 11 points apiece. Despite missing all his six two-point shots, Romeo still led GlobalPort with 27 points, hitting 8 of 13 from beyond the three-point arc. Import Shawn Taggart had a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds. Pringle chipped in 11 points. Rain or Shine 109, Phoenix 104 A Jeff Chan offensive explosion and a controversial offensive goal-tending call on Phoenix import Kevinn Pinkney in the endgame towed the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to a hard-fought 109-104 victory over the Fuel Masters. Chan scored a team-high 25 big points, including 19 in the fourth quarter. The ROS sniper shot 7-for-12 (58 percent) from the field, including three triples and a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. He was also credited for a key assist to import Mo Charlo as the game was winding down to seal the win for the Painters. Charlo finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists while Jericho Cruz added 16 markers. Raymond Almazan had a double-double 10 points and 12 rebounds. But it was the offensive goaltending call on Pinkney that allowed ROS to escape with the victory. With the victory, Rain or Shine improved to 5-4. Phoenix absorbed its sixth loss in nine games to stay at solo 10th. Willy Wilson paced the Fuel Masters with 21 points and nine rebounds. Pinkney and RR Garcia posted 20 markers each. Chico Lanete and JC Intal added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Game Saturday: Star Hotshots (4-5) vs. Alaska Aces (5-3).
