B Pier trip Bolts, stay in playoff hunt

Game today (Quezon Convention Center) 5 p.m. – Ginebra vs Rain or Shine

With main men Stanley Pringle and Sean Anthony back in top shape, the NorthPort Batang Pier believe it’s not too late to catch up and salvage a spot in the PBA Governors Cup playoffs.

Pringle and Anthony both churned out another productive effort and the Batang Pier scored a second straight win on a 99-94 drubbing of the Meralco Bolts at the MOA Arena in Pasay City last night.

“Stanley and Sean are back, and we’re developing chemistry. We’re making up for our bad start. We’re sticking with positives, hoping we can catch up,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio.

“Our back is against the wall and we can’t afford to lose. As a team, we don’t give up. Whatever happens, we’ll come out and fight,” said Anthony as they stayed in the running for post-elims play following a second straight win after six successive losses.

Anthony erupted for 26 points, including four three-pointers, while Pringle exploded for 24, counting six treys as the Bolts endured Allen Durham’s 37 points, 19 rebounds and seven assists in sending Meralco to a sixth loss against a lone victory.

Christian Standhardinger delivered a huge double-double game with 29 points and 14 rebounds while Marcio Lassiter hit timely treys and finished with a total of 26 markers as San Miguel Beer snapped a three-game losing skein with a 117-100 win over Phoenix Petroleum later in the night.

The Beermen improved to 3-4 at eighth place after the game marred by a flagrant infraction committed by SMB import Kevin Murphy in an incident with Calvin Abueva late in the game. Phoenix coach Louie Alas, team manager Paolo Bugia and player Doug Kramer drew technical fouls for leaving their bench during the commotion.

NOTES: NLEX’s Michael Miranda drew a game suspension on top of a P20,000 fine for his flagrant foul on Phoenix import Eugene Phelps in their game Wednesday. Miranda serves his suspension versus Meralco tomorrow. The scores: First Game NorthPort 99 – Anthony 26, Pringle 24, Woods 20, Tautuaa 14, Elorde 4, Arana 4, Espinas 2, Gabayni 2, Javelona 2, Taha 1, Fortuna 0, Guinto 0, Grey 0.

Meralco 94 – Durham 37, Tolomia 18, Newsome 13, Hodge 12, Hugnatan 5, Salva 4, Canaleta 3, Caram 2, Lanete 0, Amer 0, Ballesteros 0, Atkins 0, Jamito 0. Quarterscores: 22-21, 46-41, 74-69, 99-94 Second Game San Miguel 117 – Standhardinger 29, Murphy 26, Lassiter 26, Cabagnot 12, Santos 10, Ross 8, Nabong 6, Rosser 0.

Phoenix 100 – Phelps 37, Jazul 16, Abueva 13, Wright 11, Perkins 10, Intal 7, Chua 6, Revilla 0, Kramer 0, Wilson 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarterscores: 25-31, 56-45, 82-75, 117-100