Japeth, Sol key B Pier big start

Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

5:45 p.m. – Alaska vs Rain or Shine

8 p.m. – Talk n Text vs Meralco

MANILA, Philippines - Globalport worked behind two prized recruits and bucked the early ouster of its import on flagrant foul as the Batang Pier made a rousing start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 94-92 upset of the Petron Blaze Boosters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.

Japeth Aguilar and Sol Mercado, whose entry into the Globalport cast gave the team a souped-up look, both made big impacts as they helped the Batang Pier to a triumphant start in the tourney after a woeful 1-13 (win-loss) showing in the recent Philippine Cup.

Aguilar, who missed suiting up for a San Miguel Corp. team following the league’s aborted multi-player deal, marked his return to PBA play with 16 points, nine rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals against two turnovers.

The 6-foot-9 cager helped seal the win with his fourth block in the game on Jay Washington, curiously the player who should’ve ended up with Globalport if not for the botched trade.

“He’ll show a lot in this league. His talent is still raw but the important thing is that he’s got a big fighting heart. He wants to prove something to the PBA fans. It’s good for him and good for our team,” said Globalport coach Junel Baculi of Aguilar.

Baculi, however, admitted it’s not his call whether they’re keeping Aguilar for good or not. “We need Japeth for the meantime,” he said.

Gary David scattered 28 points while Mercado delivered 17 points and 11 assists as the locals stepped up big following their import’s ouster on a flagrant infraction with over 20 minutes left to play.

Williams scored 18 points and grabbed 15 rebounds before being ejected from the game on an elbow foul on Junmar Fajardo.

“I begged my players to play defense, hang on and try to make the game close. They responded and thus we pulled off an upset,” said Baculi.

“Luckily, Arwind Santos’ shot (in the dying seconds) didn’t fall in. It was a lucky win, a good lucky win,” Baculi added.

The combination of David, Aguilar, Mercado, Mark Yee and Jondan Salvador kept Globalport in the thick of the fight until Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman also had to sit out precious moments after getting hurt in a rebounding collision with Aguilar.

Mercado knocked in two free throws then Salvador added a charity of his own as the Batang Pier went upfront, 91-88, entering the last two-minute mark.

Barako Bull likewise was triumphant in its first game with its retooled lineup, topping an import-less San Mig Coffee side, 79-75, later in the night.

Jonas Villanueva and Josh Urbiztondo churned out solid games against their former team which played minus import Matt Rogers who was down with a bum stomach.

The Batang Pier hung tough to the finish and went on to nail their first win in their last 11 outings.

The Boosters yielded the game while making only four points in the last four minutes of play and nothing in the last 1:22.

Balkman, a legit ex-NBA player with stints with the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks, piled up with 23 points and 14 rebounds for the losing team.