B-Pier provide kings lifeline

Ginebra, Phoenix meet in KO duel

MANILA, Philippines — Robert Bolick dished out a triple-double as shorthanded NorthPort walloped Alaska Milk, 122-94, to claim No. 5 seeding while giving beleaguered holder Barangay Ginebra a lifeline in the 46th PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal chase yesterday in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Bolick produced an all-around statline of 22-13-13 (points-rebounds-assists) to lead a Batang Pier crew that posted its sixth win in the 11-game elims even with key players Greg Slaughter and Sean Anthony sitting it out.

NorthPort’s drubbing of the also-ran Aces (3-8) benefited the Gin Kings (4-7), who received a spot in the knockout for No. 8 with Phoenix (4-7) despite absorbing a 66-79 beating from No. 2 Meralco earlier in the first game.

Ginebra, Phoenix and Terrafirma ended in a triple tie for eighth. But after tiebreak, the Fuel Masters and the Gin Kings emerged on top and moved on to Saturday’s do-or-die for the right to face No. 1 and twice-to-beat TNT Tropang Giga (10-1).

The Batang Pier set themselves up for a best-of-three quarterfinal duel with No. 4 San Miguel Beer (7-4).

“Ito ang start namin in building a winning culture for the team,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio, who also drew solid outings from Jamie Malonzo (21), Paolo Taha (18), Sidney Onwubere (13) and Troy Rike (12) in ending the elims with back-to-back wins.

“It’s a good match. At least galing sa panalo, we will carry this sa playoffs against a mighty San Miguel team.”

Earlier, a vengeful Meralco posted its franchise-best All-Filipino mark of 9-2 at the expense of Ginebra.

Though assured of the coveted seeding and the twice-to-beat bonus no matter what, the Bolts still pounced on the opportunity to get a four-game roll entering the next phase against seventh-ranked NLEX (5-6) and also pushing the depleted Gin Kings to the brink.

“It was just a game we wanted to win,” said Meralco coach Norman Black, whose squad lost to Ginebra in three Governors’ Cup finals and in last year’s Philippine Cup semis in Clark.

“I know we played them a lot over the years and the rivalry’s a little bit one-sided because they’ve done most of the winning. It’s a game that just happened at the end of the elims and we wanted to go into the playoffs with momentum.”

Mac Belo and Alvin Pasaol each fired 15 to lead Meralco, which racked up 10 unanswered points to start things up versus Ginebra.

Stanley Pringle shot 19 for a Gin Kings side that couldn’t overcome the absence of Japeth Aguilar (MCL injury) and Scottie Thompson (health protocols).

Jarencio assured that Slaughter and Anthony will be back in harness for the tough matchup against the powerhouse and seasoned SMB gang of June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, CJ Perez and Chris Ross.

“We’re ready, we’re going into the playoffs healthy,” he said.

“We won’t back down against San Miguel. Lalaban kami at ibibigay ang best namin,” offered Bolick, looking forward to a rematch with the team that denied them of a semis seat in the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

Jeron Teng shot a team-high 18 for Alaska, which went winless in its last four assignments.