Elite beat Batang Pier, keep clean slate intact
THE Blackwater Elite maintained their strong start in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup, beating Northport Batang Pier, 113-111, on Wednesday in the league’s return after a twobreak at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Had it slow to begin the contest, the Elite willed themselves back in the game the rest of the way to frustrate the Batang Pier and improve to a 3-0 record, their best start in the PBA to date.
Firing from all cylinders, led by import Rashad Woods and the team collectively shooting at a high 64% clip, Northport dominated the first quarter.
It raced to a 24-11 lead midway into the frame before wrapping up things in the first 12 minutes with a 39-23 advantage.
The Batang Pier sustained their strong start to begin the second canto, outscoring the Elite, 14-12, to build their biggest lead of 18 points, 53-35, with 6:30 left.
But Blackwater would go on a ferocious charge back after, pulled by import Henry Walker and Poy Erram.
Steadily the Elite narrowed their deficit.
They went on a 10-4 run to cut Northport’s lead to 12 points, 57-45, in the next three minutes and inched closer, 57-53, with a minute left at the half.
The Batang Pier though survived the Elite’s onslaught to hold a 59-56 lead by the halftime break.
Blackwater kept the pressure on Northport as the third period opened, seizing the lead, 67-66, at the 7:49 mark.
But Mo Tautuaa and Mr. Woods would stop the bleeding for Northport, leading an 8-0 blast after to hand their team a 74-67 advantage at the halfway juncture of the quarter.
The Elite tried to battle back, coming to within two points a couple of occasions, the last time at 77-75, before the Batang Pier pulled away anew for the remainder of the period and stayed on top, 87-79, after a third into the contest.
The two teams slugged it out to start the fourth period, fighting to a knotted count of 97-all with 6:07 remaining.
Mr. Walker and Michael DiGregorio then ignited a 7-2 blast for the Elite, pushing the team ahead, 104-99, with 3:02 left on the clock.
Nico Elorde scored a basket for Northport moments later to make it 104-101.
Seldom-used Chris Javier then drained a jumper to give Blackwater another five-point cushion, 106-101, entering the last two minutes.
He once again delivered a deuce to make it 108-101 with 1:49 left.
It was a hole that turned out to be hard to claw out from for Northport as it saw Blackwater run away with the win after.
Mr. Walker finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead Blackwater, followed by Messrs. DiGregorio and Erram with 19 points each.
Mac Belo is the other Elite in double figures with 13.
Mr. Woods, meanwhile, led Northport with 31 points and 17 rebounds.
Stanley Pringle had 18 points while Sean Anthony had 13 markers.
With the loss, Northport continues to be winless in the season-ending
PBA tournament with a 0-5 card.
The match was the first for the PBA after it took a break to give way to the national team’s campaign in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.