MANILA: Globalport has never had it this good.

After Tuesday night, the Batang Pier just made it even better.

Globalport defeated the Star Hotshots (nee Purefoods) for the first time in its PBA existence, with a 91-89 win extending the Batang Pier’s conference-opening streak to a franchise-best three for the solo lead in the Governors’ Cup eiliminations at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Rookie Stanley Pringle and Asian import Omar Krayem spearheaded a solid second half by the Batang Pier, who trailed by 10 in the second quarter before finishing off the defending champion Hotshots with a steady game in the stretch.

Krayem highlighted a 17-point second half with two crucial long bombs in the fourth, while Pringle scored all of his 15 in the final two frames that was capped by a dagger of a jumper over arguably the league’s finest defender.

Globalport also tapped the services of former Air21 import Steven Thomas in a pinch-hitting capacity, even as Terrence Romeo was again solid and completed a four-sided battering ram that made all the difference against the Hotshots.

The loss was the first for the Hotshots, who opened defense of the only remaining title of their Grand Slam year last season with a win over the NLEX Road Warriors over the weekend.

“This is our first time to beat Purefoods,” a beaming Pido Jarencio, who was given a second chance as Globalport coach and is making the most out of the opportunity, said. “This is very positive for the team. We beat the defending champions.”

Trailing more than three-fourths of the way, the Batang Pier eased out front heading into the final three minutes and then held on with the Pringle jumper turning out to be the highlight of the endgame.

Having possession with 34.4 seconds to go and protecting an 89-87 lead, Jarencio called for time and drew up a play that would give Pringle the chance to win the game for the Batang Pier.

Jarencio had earlier gone to Romeo in the previous two offensives that netted them nothing, but Pringle made sure of this one even if Star coach Tim Cone had thrown the irrepressible Marc Pingris to defend the Globalport point guard.

“Yes, that was the play – to isolate Stanley,” Jarencio said.

Pringle milked the clock some more before attacking Pingris’ defense, losing the Star forward with a nifty cross over dribble and a little nudge with the forearm ala Michael Jordan against Bryon Russell for the jumper that made it 91-87 with 12.2 to go.

Marqus Blakely then cut the deficit to what turned out to be the final count with a follow-up of a Mark Barroca miss with under eight seconds left but couldn’t complete a defensive stop on the other end as Pringle ran out the clock.

The streak equaled the longest for the Globalport franchise in three years in the league, but what made this special is the fact that it came to start this conference, which is so short that every team would need all the wins they could get.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer finally barged into the win column later in the night, tripping Commissioner’s Cup runner-up Rain or Shine, 104-91, for a 1-2 card.

Arizona Reid, the former Rain or Shine import, scored 36 points and reigning MVP June Mar Fajardo added 22 for the Beermen, who have been the subjects of nasty rumors of late because of their slow start.

The Beermen will be Globalport’s next foes.

Wendell McKinis paced the Elasto Painters with 19 points, with super point guard Paul Lee shooting 17 and Gabe Norwood and JR Quinahan turning in 12 apiece.

Wednesday’s schedule will have Barangay Ginebra colliding with KIA Motors, with the Carnival shooting to add another powerhouse team to their list of victims here after taking down the Beermen last week.

That game is slated at 7 p.m.