MANILA, Philippines — Wanting in manpower but not in fighting spirit, depleted NorthPort bravely clawed back from a 25-point deficit to score a pulsating 107-105 overtime squeaker over Rain or Shine and grab a share of the lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the MOA Arena.
Chasing the E-Painters all throughout, the Batang Pier’s “eight brave souls” courageously inched their way into the contest and finally drew level at the end of regulation then hit the big shots heading to the finish to roll to their third straight win and 6-1 overall for a leadership tie with idle TNT KaTropa.
“It’s an overwhelming feeling to go 6-1. We fought despite having only eight players. It didn’t matter if there were only eight of us, we were determined and focused to fight it out for our goal, which is to win,” said a relieved NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio.
The Batang Pier, who forced ROS to a stalemate with booming triples from Mo Tautuaa and Robert Bolick in the last 30 seconds of regulation and took a five-point cushion behind the duo’s exploits in extension, picked up the dramatic win a day after dealing star guard Stanley Pringle to Ginebra.
NorthPort’s new acquisitions from the trade, Sol Mercado, Kevin Ferrer and Jervy Cruz, didn’t suit up yet and joined injured Nico Elorde and Jonathan Grey at the sidelines, leaving Tautuaa, Bolick, Gabo Lanete, Sean Anthony, Paolo Taha, Ryan Araña, Joseph Gabayni and import Prince Ibeh to battle ROS.
“The players simply won’t give up. It’s all heart, pride and fighting spirit,” said Jarencio, whose team secured a place in the quarterfinals with the W and gave itself a chance to vie for Top 2.
Tautuaa posted a new career high output of 34 points, making half of them in NP’s fourth-quarter fightback and OT closeout, plus 11 rebounds while Bolick fired 22.
In the nightcap, NLEX ended a conference-long heartache with a 100-91 dispatching of Meralco.
Tony Mitchell collected 32 markers and 20 boards while Jericho Cruz had his best showing in an NLEX uniform with 16 points and six feeds as the Road Warriors broke through after six consecutive losses. The Bolts (3-5) reeled to their third straight setback.
The scores:
First Game
NorthPort 107 – Tautuaa 34, Bolick 22, Lanete 16, Anthony 14, Taha 12, Ibeh 9, Araña 0.
Rain or Shine 105 – Bowles 41, Mocon 16, Daquioag 12, Nambatac 11, Rosales 10, Belga 5, Norwood 4, Ponferada 2, Borboran 2, Torres 2, Alejandro 0.
Quarterscores: 17-25, 40-49, 63-84, 100-100, 107-105 (OT)
Second Game
NLEX 100 – Mitchell 32, Cruz 16, Galanza 13, Paniamogan 8, Quiñahan 7, Erram 7, Ighalo 6, Varilla 4, Lao 4, Tiongson 3, Paredes 0, Soyud 0.
Meralco 91 – Lawal 15, Newsome 14, Salva 14, Amer 13, Canaleta 10, Jackson 6, Pinto 6, Almazan 5, Caram 4, Faundo 2, Hodge 2, Hugnatan 0, Quinto 0.
Quarterscores: 27-25, 56-49, 85-70, 100-91