Still alive and kicking, rejuvenated NorthPort continued its streak, winning its second straight after scoring a critical 94-84 victory over Alaska to help its bid alivefor a quarterfinals berth in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night.
Batang Pier main weapons Sean Anthony, Stanley Pringle and Mo Tautuua once again carried the fight for their squad, producing stellar performances to keep NorthPort in the running for a berth in the quarters.
Anthony was splendid, unloading a monster double-double showing of a game-high 24 points and 17 rebounds, while Pringle was not far behind, scoring 21 points.Tautuua almost had a double-double himself, tallying 14 markers with nine boards.
NorthPort’s decisive 19-4 surge in the middle of the payoff period did the job as Alaska simply had no answer for the dynamic triumvirate down the stretch.
The Batang Pier lost their double-digit lead after the Aces started out the fourth with a torrid 14-0 bomb to steal the lead temporarily, 74-71, with under nine minutes left.
Not losing its focus, NorthPort swiftly answered with the dagger run to finally put Alaska away for good.
Now, the Batang Pier improved to 4-6 with a game left in their schedule. They still need to win their last assignment to be in the hunt for a place in the top eight.
As for the Aces, the costly setback was deflating as they finished at 4-7. They now have a very slim chance of forcing a playoff for a berth in the next round, depending of the results of the other teams’ remaining games.
If the results do not favor Alaska, it will get the early boot as well.
NorthPort uncorked a 15-7 run in the latter part of the third to open up a double-digit lead, 63-53, and seize command.
Led by its dynamic trio, the Batang Pier wrestled hard to systematically gain the upperhand in the crucial junctures.
After trailing by three at the end of one, the Batang Pier went to work in the middle quarters, outscoring the Aces 14 in those 24 minutes in between to carry a comfortable 71-60 cushion into the last quarter.
Though Alaska stole the lead with that furious early onslaught in the fourth, the poised Batang Pier was able to hold its ground down the stretch to regain control and preserve the win.
Carl Bryan Cruz led the Aces in the losing cause with a team-high 23 points.