Up against a league powerhouse for the second straight game, Globalport was up to the challenge this time.

Playing with more composure ad brandishing a loaded arsenal this time around, the Batang Pier on Friday night took down Star, 101-94 even as Alaska earlier took the solo lead in the PBA Philippine Cup by dodging the upset axe at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Stanley Pringle scored 23 points and had five assists and national team standout Terrence Romeo came off the bench to shoot 20 as the duo led the Batang Pier to the authoritative win for a 1-1 record.

Alaska zoomed to 2-0 earlier in the night after an 87-79 win over Blackwater, with the Aces trailing for most of the first three quarters before getting the spark from Vic Manuel coming off the bench.

Manuel, who got married on Wednesday and did not go on his honeymoon to play, scored all of his 13 points in the final two quarters, also grabbing seven rebounds as he became the hero for the Aces.

Alaska thus tied idle NLEX, Rain or Shine and defending champion San Miguel Beer at the top in this short elimination round that rewards automatic Final Four spots to the first two placers.

“Even teams with veteran players fall to first game jitters,” said Globalport coach Pido Jarencio in Filipino, who attributed a lopsided loss to the Beermen in Davao last week to nerves. “We’re slowly coming around, as evidence in this game.”

“We were out of synch in that game,” he went on. “But this team has a mission, and that is to get into the playoffs first, make the semifinals and then the championship (series). This is a step in the right direction.”

Romeo was paced for the second straight game, but delivered in a much bigger way compared to his five-point debut against San Miguel.

The international revelation with the Gilas Pilipinas national team in the Jones Cup last August, the 5-foot-11 Romeo was 8-of-24 from the field, and Jarencio couldn’t help but point out that his ace guard is still playing with a tinge of over-eagerness.

“I have to pace him, play him in a way that he can get his timing back,” Jarencio said. “It is only in games where one can have a rhythm. He cannot get it in practice. That’s why I have to help him achieve that.

“But I am confident that as the tournament goes on, Terrence will become a lot better,” he went on. “Right now, the boy is still tired from playing (with Gilas) in the Jones Cup and the Fiba-Asia.”

Pringle, on the other hand, was a lot more efficient, shooting 9-of-15 from the field, counting three triples, and making all two free throws that went with four rebounds and five assists.

“Special mention to Stanley,” Jarencio said.

Star was a shade shy of the team that beat Barangay Ginebra last week with Peter June Simon and James Yap combining for just 22 points.

Although there were six players in twin digits for rookie coach Jason Webb, the Hotshots failed to play with the same form they did in downing the hulking Gin Kings, with the 14 points of Marc Pingris enough to lead the team this time.

Sophomore guard Chris Banchero shared team honors with Manuel for Alaska, which kept Blackwater winless in this tournament since entering the league last season.

JP Erram scored 13 points and had eight rebounds for Blackwater, which finished 0-11 here last year.