Coming off a dominant win over the Blackwater Elite last Wednesday, the NorthPort Batang Pier showed this time around that they can grit and grind as well.
Behind veterans Sean Anthony and Mo Tautuaa, Northport were able to make the big plays down the stretch. They continued the skid of the NLEX Road Warriors, 95-90, Sunday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The duo of Anthony and Tautuaa were a menace for the Road Warriors. The former tallied 22 points, nine rebounds, six steals, and five assists, while the latter finished with a double-double line of 18 markers and 11 boards.
“Actually, that’s natural sa kanya yan. Siya yung player na palaban! Yung may pride, puso, at palaban. Siya yung consistent sa amin ngayon. Off the bench siya pero nag-deliver. Nagugulat nga ako parang hindi napapagod,” NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio said about Anthony.
“Actually si Mo, nag-deliver lang siya nung fourth quarter. Iba yung team na meron ka sa ilalim. At least nakapag-deliver siya nung last seven minutes,” he added about Tautuaa.
But it was not just the two who delivered, as timely baskets from Paolo Taha, rookie Robert Bolick, Mo Tautuaa and Sean Anthony kept the Road Warriors at bay after they closed in by a solitary point with 4:01 remaining in the final quarter.
“Breaks of the game lang. We got our momentum in the second half. Actually controlled namin ang game, and second half we played good defense. Pero total team effort ‘to,” shared Jarencio.
Coming off a 26-point game, Bolick cooled down this time around, finishing with 14 points but committing seven turnovers.
NorthPort join the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the top early in the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, while sending NLEX to their second straight loss.
“Two-zero, layo pa. Pero NLEX team na matibay, tinalo namin. That will be a morale booster,” said Jarencio.
After trailing by six with 8:32 remaining in the final frame, the Road Warriors managed to give a scare by knocking within one, 85-86, after a Kevin Alas basket with 4:01 to go.
But that proved to be their last gasp, as NLEX went cold after that. NorthPort took advantage and made a 9-4 run – ended by Anthony’s split – for a 95-89 lead with 15 ticks left to shut the door.
Stanley Pringle chimed in 11 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
The loss wasted the efforts of Poy Erram, who led the Road Warriors with 19 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high three blocks. However, his numbers were negated by his six turnovers.
JR Quiñahan had 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Bong Galanza and Philip Paniamogan chipped in 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
NorthPort look to make it three in a row when they face the Columbian Dyip on Friday, January 25 at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City. Meanwhile, NLEX look to enter the win column when they take on sister team TNT Katropa on Wednesday, January 23, at the Big Dome.
The Scores:
NorthPort 95 – Anthony 22, Tautuaa 18, Bolick 14, Pringle 11, Taha 9, Elorde 8, Arana 4, Guinto 3, Flores 2, Lanete 2, Grey 2, Gabayni 0, Sollano 0.
NLEX 90 – Erram 19, Quinahan 18, Galanza 11, Paniamogan 10, Magat 8, Tallo 7, Fonacier 5, Baguio 4, Ighalo 2, Alas 2, Soyud 2, Porter 2, Taulava 0, Rios 0.
Quarterscores: 25-22, 48-46, 71-70, 95-90.
