January 11, 2018

Pido Jerencio not in panic mode, admits GlobalPort needs to be consistent to break spell

GLOBALPORT should be on a panic mode after starting the PBA Philippine Cup with back-to-back defeats that stretched the team's losing skein to seven.

But coach Pido Jarencio is unperturbed, maintaining there are enough games left for his Batang Pier to recover and make a push for the playoffs.

"Mahaba pa 'yan, marami pang laro," Jarencio has said.

GlobalPort is bent on living up to its comebacking coach's words when it tangles with Rain or Shine Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Elasto Painters are coming off an 87-92 loss to Blackwater last Dec. 29 and coach Caloy Garcia would like nothing more than for his team to get back on track and kick off its new year campaign on a high note.

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GlobalPort is at least equally determined, having also dropped its last five games in the last Governors Cup that is part of the reason why Jarencio was plucked from his erstwhile post as president of basketball operations aand steer the team for the third time.

After opening up the season with losses to NLEX and Barangay Ginebra, the last via a 97-104 count last Sunday when GlobalPort blew a nine-point lead, Jarencio remains upbeat.

"We just played two playoff teams in NLEX and Ginebra," said Jarencio after the Kings' game. "For sure, basta maging consistent lang kami. We have to play consistent basketball not just for 45 minutes, but 48 minutes."

Rain or Shine must also be bristling to atone for that sorry loss to Blackwater, when the E-Painters blew a 10-point lead and could not match the Elite's closing surge.

What should stack the odds in favor of Rain or Shine is the fact Maverick Ahanmisi, who missed the Blackwater game due to his grandfather's passing, and Jericho Cruz are back in harness while Terrence Romeo is not yet fully healed from his knee injury.

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How the likes of Stanley Pringle and Sean Anthony would range against the likes of not only Cruz and Ahanmisi but also Chris Tiu, Raymond Almazan and Beau Belga should be crucial. (NC)