NorthPort remains afloat

Call the NorthPort Batang Pier unsinkable. For now, at least. NorthPort finally ended a string of misfortunes with a surprise rout of fancied TNT KaTropa, 109-83, to revive its quarterfinal hopes in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Stanley Pringle had 27 points and nine rebounds while sophomore big man Lervin Flores provided an unexpected lift with 11 points as the Batang Pier improved to 3-6 in snapping a sixgame skid.

The victory not only kept the chances of NorthPort in the top eight but also handed Rain or Shine the second twiceto-beat advantage with TNT’s loss.

Rain or Shine, which ended the eliminations with an 8-3 record, clinched the quarterfinal bonus even if were to end up sharing the same win-loss card with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel due to a winner-over-the-other-rule.

The Elasto Painters beat Ginebra, 8380, last Jan. 26 in Calasiao, Pangasinan.

TNT ended the elims at 7-4 after seeing its five-game winning streak snapped.

The Batang Pier halted a skid filled with heartbreaking losses, including blown leads against Phoenix Pulse, Meralco and Magnolia.

“Our past five or six games ended with bad breaks,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio. “But in this game, it was like we played a perfect game.”

NorthPort needs to win its remaining two games to possibly secure a quarters berth.

Up next for the Batang Pier are the Alaska Aces on Wednesday and Ginebra on April 3.

NorthPort started hot to take a 53-31 halftime lead, then denied TNT a serious comeback to claim its first win since defeating NLEX, 95-90, last Jan. 20.

Don Trollano had 15 points and seven rebounds for the KaTropa, who will be relegated to a best-ofthree series. Atlanta 129, Philadelphia 127 Washington 108, Miami 113 Portland 117, Detroit 112 Sacramento 112, Phoenix 103 Chicago 83, Utah 114 Memphis 99, Minnesota 112 Charlotte 124, Boston 117 Golden State 91, Dallas 126