Jay R. Gotera Saudi Gazette MANILA — The GlobalPort Batang Pier blew away the NLEX Road Warriors, 108-80, Friday night to resume their march to the playoffs after losing their last two games in the PBA Governors' Cup. GlobalPort led by as much as 30 points, nipping in the bud any NLEX attempt at a comeback. The Batang Pier thus improved to a 5-4 win-loss card, good for solo fourth place in the standings. The Road Warriors fell to 2-7, nearing the point of vanishing after the elimination round. Import Jarrid Famous paced GlobalPort with 30 points and 24 rebounds while Terrence Romeo posted 22 markers. Asian import Omar Krayem of Palestine added 19 points, five rebounds and four assists. Asi Taulava led the Road Warriors with 23 points. Imports Kwame Alexander and Manly Madanly of Syria added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Talk N Text 98, Blackwater 91 The Talk N Text Tropang Texters finally snapped a four-game losing streak, beating cellar-dwellar Blackwater Elite, 98-91, to stay alive in the hunt for a playoff spot with only two elimination round games left to play. The Texters go up against the Star Hotshots on Tuesday and then against the Kia Carnival on June 19. They will need to win both to get a shot at a top 8 finish. The last four placers (ninth to 12th) automatically get kicked out after the elimination round. Blackwater, on the other hand, fell further at 1-7 win-loss card, just one loss away from being eliminated outright from playoffs contention — the third time in as many conferences it would suffer the same fate. Matt Ganuelas-Rosser came off the bench to lead the Texters with 21 points, 11 of them in the fourth quarter when TNT finally asserted its dominance over Blackwater. Larry Fonacier added 20 points including four three-pointers, one of which finally gave TNT the lead, 75-73, in the fourth quarter after coming back from a 16-point deficit. Asian import Sam Daghles also came off the bench to score 15 points and six boards. Ranidel de Ocampo and Danny Seigle added 14 and 10 points, respectively. Import Steffphon Pettigrew and top gunner Jayson Castro were hardly a factor in the game, finishing with just seven points apiece. Rookie Brian Heruela led Blackwater with 21 points, 11 assists, and seven boards, while new Marcus Cousin posted 16 markers in his first game in the PBA. He replaced Marcus Douthit who is with the Philippine national team in the SEA Games in Singapore. Games Saturday: Alaska Aces vs. Barako Bull Energy and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Star Hotshots.
