Cade Flores’ dominant double-double performance helped NorthPort deal a significant blow to NLEX’s top-seed aspirations, escaping with a thrilling 113-108 victory to snap an eight-game losing streak in the penultimate game of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup, Wednesday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
With the 26-point, 15-point double-double performance of Flores, the already-eliminated Batang Pier notched their first win since their opening-day triumph over the Terrafirma Dyip last April 12.
The morale-boosting win gives NorthPort momentum heading into their final Philippine Cup assignment against San Miguel on Sunday, June 15, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
More than just snapping their slump, NorthPort’s win threw a wrench into NLEX’s chase for the top seed heading into the quarterfinals.
The Road Warriors, now in a three-way tie for third place with the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots and Barangay Ginebra, all holding identical 7-3 records, risk falling out of contention for the No. 1 seed.
If the San Miguel Beermen sweep their final two games against Converge and NorthPort, NLEX could lose its grip on the first seed.
(C) PBA Images
“Lagi naman rineremind sa kanila ng coaching staff, especially ni Coach Bonnie [Tan], to play hard every game. We’re practicing hard, kung papaano namin napapakita yung gusto namin manalo sa ensayo. Plus, every practice, we’re complete na. Kumbaga kung sino yung meron kami na players, ‘yon yung ilalaban namin hanggang sa dulo ng conference,” Batang Pier assistant coach Rensy Bajar said postgame.
NorthPort appeared to be cruising to victory after a fadeaway jumper by Evan Nelle and a free throw by Paolo Taha gave them a 107-98 cushion with 2:50 remaining. But NLEX staged one last rally, ignited by a seven-point flurry from Chris Herndon that powered a 10-3 run, cutting the lead to just two, 110-108, with 31 seconds left.
However, Yu responded with a clutch layup, and Flores sank a game-sealing free throw to officially snap the Batang Pier’s skid and improve their record to 2-8.
Beyond Northport’s resilient stand in the fourth quarter, the team’s second win of the season would not be made possible without the Batang Pier’s 40-22 third quarter performance — capped by 10 straight points from Flores — to enter the payoff period with a 86-76 lead that proved to be insurmountable to overcome.
Yu also shined with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting with five assists and two rebounds, while Calvin Abueva made a positive impact in his second game with Northport, finishing with 19 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and four assists.
Joshua Munzon was limited to eight points on 2-of-11 shooting but contributed 12 assists, five rebounds, and three steals.
(C) PBA Images
In the loss, Herndon paced the Road Warriors with 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting with six rebounds and two assists, while Robert Bolick tallied 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
Rookie forward Brandon Ramirez also achieved 16 points with two rebounds and one steal, while JB Bahio poured in a double-double outing of 11 points and 11 rebounds with four assists and one steal.
Jonnel Policarpio and Kevin Alas chipped in 12 points each in NLEX’s third Philippine Cup defeat.
The Scores:
Northport 113 – Flores 26, Yu 21, Abueva 19, Munzon 8, Balanza 7, Nelle 7, Onwubere 6, Bulanadi 6, Nava 5, Jalalon 3, Taha 3, Cuntapay 2, Kwekuteye 0
NLEX 108 – Herndon 21, Ramirez 16, Bolick 16, Policarpio 12, Alas 12, Bahio 11, Torres 11, Valdez 9, Amer 0
Quarterscores: 22-30, 46-54, 86-76, 113-108
