After six games of misery, the NorthPort Batang Pier have finally earned their first win in the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup as they scored a 118-101 victory over the Columbian Dyip, Saturday evening at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The Batang Pier went down by as much as 12 points in the third canto, but turned the jets on in the final frame for an overwhelming 30-5 scoring feast, en route to an enormous 116-94 lead with just 2:04 left in the game.
NorthPort have improved to 1-6 while keeping Columbian winless at 0-8.
“It’s about time na yung breaks of the game mapunta sa’min, which is itong game,” said NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio. “We almost won games. We weren’t making shots then, but now we were making shots.”
Mo Tautuaa led the Batang Pier with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The 6-foot-7 slotman instigated NorthPort’s fourth quarter surge by scoring seven straight points to help his side turn a three-point lag in their favor.
“Mo Tautuaa, ‘di nila ma-stop inside,” said Jarencio of Tautuaa.
Stanley Pringle chimed in 26 points as well along with seven assists. Sean Anthony was all over the place, producing 25 points on 10-of-19 field goal shooting with nine rebounds, six steals, five assists, and one block.
Import Rashad Woods had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
“Nakapanalo na, four to go. Tignan natin kung saan tayo mapunta,” said Jarencio optimistically. “One game at a time. Kailangan lang mag-move on lang ng mag-move on. Basta tignan lang natin hanggang saan tayo mapunta.”
The loss wasted Jerramy King’s valiant 29-point, eight-rebound effort. Russel Escoto’s all-around game went for naught as well as he finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists on over 23 minutes of action.
Rashawn McCarthy added 16 points in the loss. Import Akeem Wright only had 10 points and 11 boards.
NorthPort will look to sustain their rhythm versus the Meralco Bolts on October 12, Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena, while Columbian’s hunt for a W continues versus the Alaska Aces on October 17, Wednesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Scores:
NorthPort (118) – Pringle 26, Tautuaa 26, Anthony 25, Woods 13, Taha 10, Elorde 7, Gabayni 3, Grey 2, Flores 2, Espinas 2, Guinto 2, Fortuna 0, Javelona 0, Teng 0.
Columbian (101) – King 29, McCarthy 16, Escoto 14, Corpuz 13, Wright 10, Khobuntin 5, Cahilig 4, Celda 3, Sara 3, Reyes 2, Gabriel 2.
Quarterscores: 24-25, 53-50, 86-89, 118-101.
