by Jonas Terrado
Games Friday (Cuneta Astrodome)
4:30 p.m. – TNT KaTropa vs Columbian
7 p.m. – San Miguel vs Alaska
NorthPort showed it can compete in the post-Stanley Pringle era as it rallied late in regulation before pulling off a stunning 107-105 overtime victory over Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Robert Bolick forced the game into overtime with a three-pointer with 11.6 seconds left in the fourth, scored the go-ahead basket in the extension and found Mo Tautuaa for a three that put the Batang Pier up 107-102.
But the Batang Pier had to endure excruciating moments in the final 26.4 seconds of overtime as the Elasto Painters were able to cut it to two and import Prince Ibeh missed four consecutive free throws.
Denzel Bowles had a chance to win on a three-pointer but his running attempt went short and NorthPort players celebrated at center court as if they had won a championship.
“Yung kasiyahan namin overwhelming,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio, who only had eight players in uniform with Pringle shipped to Ginebra last Tuesday in exchange for Sol Mercado, Kevin Ferrer and Jervy Cruz.
Mercado, Ferrer and Cruz sat out the match while the Batang Pier also missed the services of Nico Elorde and Jonathan Grey due to injuries.
Add the fact Rain or Shine led by a high of 25 points in the third and NorthPort has reasons to be overjoyed.
The result also put NorthPort back in a share of the lead with idle TNT KaTropa at 6-1, virtually securing a spot in the quarterfinal phase of the midseason tournament.
The scores:
NORTHPORT 107 – Tautuaa 34, Bolick 22, Lanete 16, Anthony 14, Taha 12, Ibeh 9, Arana 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 105 – Bowles 41, Mocon 16, Daquioag 12, Nambatac 11, Rosales 10, Belga 5, Norwood 4, Ponferada 2, Borboran 2, Torres 2, Alejandro 0.
Quarters: 17-25, 40-49, 63-84, 100-100, 107-105.
