MANILA: Globalport got everything going its way in the second half on Tuesday night and almost blew it.

Encountering token resistance from an Alaska crew that played without its core from the fourth quarter on, the Batang Pier still needed overtime to hammer out a 117-104 win to grab the last twice-to-beat privilege in the first round of the PBA Governors’ Cup playoffs.

Alaska didn’t need this game in anyway, yet the Aces still put up a great fight even with import Romeo Travis not seeing second half action and the local nucleus getting a much-needed rest.

Globalport was even the one that had to fight to take the game into extension, getting two free throws from Stanley Pringle with under 40 seconds left to play for 98-all before playing stingy defense in overtime to pound out the win.

In closing out the elimination round with a 7-4 record, the Batang Pier finished No. 4 and earned a twice-to-beat quarterfinal privilege for the first time in their PBA lives.

They drew No. 5 Star, which survived newcomer Blackwater, 87-82, in the nightcap, needing to beat the defending champion Hotshots just once to make the Final Four also for the first time.

Jarrid Famous scored 34 points and had 26 rebounds, Pringle finished with 24 and Omar Krayem contributed 20 for the Batang Pier, who will start looking for that one win when the playoffs start on Friday also at the Big Dome in Cubao.

Alaska still finished No. 1 despite the loss and will still have to await a quarterfinal foe depending on the result of the final elimination round schedule Wednesday night.

Meralco battles newcomer KIA Motors in the 4:15 p.m. contest, seeking a win that would mean No. 7 and the right to play No. 2 San Miguel Beer in the first round. The Beermen also need to win just one game.

Barangay Ginebra battles ousted NLEX in the 7 p.m. contest but would have to hope for a KIA victory over the Bolts to be able to march on. A victory by the Carnival by 17 points or more, however, would also kick the Gin Kings out of the playoff picture.

Another scenario is that idle Talk ‘N Text, which finished the classification with a 5-6 record, would be booted out of the picture if KIA wins by 16 or less and Ginebra triumphs over the Road Warriors.

A Meralco win would complete the quarterfinal cast and would render the NLEX-Ginebra matchup an exhibition.

Should the Bolts upend the Carnival, the playoff pairings would have Alaska taking on No. 8 Talk ‘N Text; No. 2 San Miguel Beer slugging it out with No. 7 Meralco; No. 3 Rain or Shine taking on Barako Bull and the Globalport-Star match-up.

“We took advantage of them playing all-Filipino in the second half, I guess,” Globalport coach Pido Jarencio said after the game. “Our players knew what was at stake for us. We have never been in this situation before.

“For us, this is a great opportunity,” Jarencio added, referring to the advantage they have over the Hotshots. “And we will take full advantage of that.”

Travis still went on to finish with 13 points and 10 rebounds in just under 18 minutes of exposure. Cyrus Baguio paced the Aces with 20.

Star coach Tim Cone admitted to his wards being deflated somewhat after Globalport squeezed out a win in the first game, knowing that they lost all hope of gaining a twice-to-beat privilege.

An Alaska victory would have given reversed the tables and given Star No. 4 seeding against Globalport, which would have dropped to No. 5 with a loss.

“I think we just kind of lost our energy,” Cone said of the slow Star start against the Elite. “We started the game poorly. We were really flat at the start of the game.”

Cone, who coached the Aces in their most glorious years, said he has no bad feelings for Alaska not playing Travis in the second half.

“I really truly believe that they have no obligation to win a game for anybody other than themselves,” Cone said of the Aces. “To me, Globalport deserves it (twice-to-beat slot). They (Alaska) don’t owe anybody favors.

“We’ve been there before, too,” Cone went on. “We didn’t worry about it (helping another team). We also rested key guys. To me, that’s no big deal.”