Pido halftime outburst fuels B Pier to 2nd win

MANILA, Philippines -- The Globalport Batang Pier, with a severe dressing down from their coach at the break, fought with a different character in the final half and topped the Kia Sorento, 84-79, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Tuesday night.

Getting coach Pido Jarencio’s message in leaving a shattered white board in their dugout after their halftime huddle, the Batang Pier charged back from a 11-point deficit and repulsed the Sorento for a second win in four games.

Kia, continuing to miss playing coach Manny Pacquiao, slid down to 1-3.

Down 36-47 at the half, Jarencio talked to his players one by one, telling they can go home if they don’t want to play.

Ronjay Buenafe and rookie Anthony Semerad responded enormously, combining for 31 points as Globalport eventually defied the challenge of the league newcomer in a match marred by a fight between Chad Alonzo and Semerad.

Buenafe, averaging only three points in their first three games, fired four three-pointers and a game-high total of 19 points while Semerad, the MVP winner in the recent NCAA finals, tossed in 12 markers in his second game in the pros.

“This is a relief for the team. We don’t want to languish in the cellar. We’re tired of being there,” said Jarencio.

Also drawing firepower from Stanley Pringle and Mark Isip, the Batang Pier overcame a sluggish start and squeezed through even minus main man Alex Cabagnot and with starting center Noy Baclao playing only five minutes.

Cabagnot was down with flu while Baclao was also under the weather but refused to sit down the game.

“I don’t think our two losses was a reflection of our character. I considered it breaks of the game. It’s not our character to break down,” said Jarencio. “You can see here. It’s a come-from-behind win against a Kia team that’s playing very well.”

The game was still tied at 69 before another rookie John Pinto rifled in a trey to spark a decisive 9-2 run by the Batang Pier.

The Sorento dominated the first half marred by a fight between Alonzo and Semerad.

Alonzo, a player with a reputation of being a rough-houser from his amateur days, connected with at least four hits on the Globalport freshman before they were separated by the refs.

The former Adamson player himself brought Semerad down to the floor. Curiously, the refs ruled it a double-technical foul.

On the bench a little later, Alonzo was seen on TV ridiculing the refs with a big smile while demonstrating to his teammates his hits on Semerad. 

In the second half, Reil Cervantes and Jewel Ponferada were also called a double-technical foul.