Grey’s trey lifts Batang Pier

Jonathan Grey knocked down the biggest shot of his young career as he drained a tightly contested triple to lift Globalport to a 114-113 victory over Rain or Shine in their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) quarterfinal duel last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With the Batang Pier teetering on the brink of elimination, 111-113, import Malcolm White delivered a crisp pass to Grey at the left wing for the game-winner with only 11.5 seconds left.

The Elasto Painters tried to steal the game, but the desperation heave launched by Maverick Ahanmisi went offline.

With the win, the Globalport completed its rally form 16 points down and denied the top seed Rain or Shine the chance to return to the semifinals for the first time since 2015.

The Batang Pier also forged a rubber match against the Batang Pier on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Globalport coach Pido Jarencio admitted that the play was supposed to be for White, but his import made the right decision of passing it to the gunner with the hot hands in Grey.

“That’s not part of the play,” said Jarencio, who is looking to join the elite list of eight-seed teams that knocked out a top seed.

“It just so happened that Malcolm made the right decision of kicking it out to Grey. He found himself open so he had no choice but to launch it.”

“It’s give and take. If that didn’t go in, we would lose. But it went in so we won. I hope this luck continues in Game 2.”

White spearheaded Globalport’s attack with 28 points, 16 rebounds, three assists and two blocks while skipper Stanley Pringle flirted with a triple-double of 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.

But it was Grey who stood the tallest as he drilled 12 of his 22 points in that torrid fourth-quarter uprising.

“I told him just give me a good performance,” Jarencio said. “Give me good defense, give me good scoring. He responded by delivering big-time in this game.”

Reggie Johnson tallied 24 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists while Raymond Almazan chipped in 17 markers for Rain or Shine, which will gun for the jugular in Game 2.

Meanwhile, Talk ‘N Text didn’t push through with its protest following a 110-121 lost to reigning champion San Miguel Beer Monday.

Instead, the KaTropa will just focus on their Game 2 encounter today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Globalport (114): White 28, Grey 22, Pringle 21, Anthony 11, Elorde 7, Taha 6, Tautuaa 6, Javelona 4, Espinas 3, Guinto 3, Teng 3, Arana 0

Rain or Shine (113): Johnson 24, Almazan 17, Yap 16, Ahanmisi 15, Daquioag 14, Tiu 10, Norwood 9, Belga 8, Torres 0