BATANG PIER SUSTAIN CHARGE
Games Wednesday (PhilSports Arena) 3 p.m. – Bay Area vs TNT / 5:45 p.m. – Terrafirma vs San Miguel
NorthPort played streak-stopper to a Converge side that deployed an all-Filipino crew and paid a heavy price.
Sparked by the career-best outing from rookie William Navarro, the Batang Pier toppled the Quincy Millerless FiberXers, 112-97, for a pivotal win in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night.
Navarro dished out 29 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists – all new highs in his young PBA career – and highlighted his heroics with a 16-point explosion in the third quarter that led to NorthPort’s breakaway en route to their sixth victory in 11 outings.
As the Batang Pier extended their run to a third game, the rejuvenated charges of Pido Jarencio also put an end to the sizzling seven-match roll of the FiberXers, who fell to 8-3 overall.
It wasn’t a full-strength Converge on the other end with Miller benched due to “coaches’ decision” but NorthPort would take this result gladly.
“We’re expecting na full force sila but eventually yung import nila, hindi naglaro. Naging favorable for us. But with or without import, ready kami,” said Jarencio, whose team kept their hold of No. 5 in the standings with this victorious result.
Navarro’s star shone bright in the penultimate period, where he led a 36-24 exchange that pushed the Batang Pier to an 88-73 tear from a close 52-49 count.
Just as vital were the strong performances of Robert Bolick, who produced 26 with 10 dimes and six boards, and Prince Ibeh, who banged in 19 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks against Converge’s Filipino frontliners.
“It was a total team effort. Everybody was focused on defense and on offense, they shared the ball. Yun talaga ang game plan. Naexecute namin and we got the win. Now we have three in a row and we have a chance to make the playoffs,” said Jarencio.
Aljun Melecio fired 20 while Jeron Teng shot 14 to take scoring cudgels for Converge as Miller served a team-enforced sitout as consequence for missing practice the day after his birthday celebration.
Later, streaking Barangay Ginebra fended off an import-less but hard-fighting TNT, 89-85, to clinch a quarterfinal seat at 7-2.
The Tropang Giga, who missed Cam Oliver due to knee sprain and lost Jayson Castro to ankle injury in the third, slid to ninth place at 4-6. The scores: First Game NorthPort 112 – Navarro 29, Bolick 26, Ibeh 19, Tolentino 15, Sumang 9, Balanza 7, Ferrer 4, Ayaay 2, Chan 1, Caperal 0, Calma 0.
Converge 97 – Melecio 20, Teng 14, Ahanmisi 11, Ilagan 11, Tratter 9, Stockton 8, Arana 8, Browne 6, Racal 6, Digregorio 2, Bulanadi 2, Ambohot 0. Quarterscores: 28-18, 52-49, 88-73, 112-97 Second Game Ginebra 89 – Brownlee 21, Pringle 12, Thompson 10, J. Aguilar 9, Malonzo 8, Tenorio 8, Mariano 8, Standhardinger 8, Gray 5, Pinto 0.
TNT 85 – M. Williams 20, Pogoy 18, Erram 16, Khobuntin 10, Castro 7, Oftana 6, K. Williams 4, Tungcab 2, Heruela 2, Rosser 0, Soyud 0.
Quarterscores: 34-22, 53-45, 68-71, 89-85