by Jonas Terrado
New acquisitions Kevin Ferrer, Jervy Cruz, and Sol Mercado made an immediate impact in their debuts as NorthPort waylaid Blackwater, 127-99, to gain a share of the lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Ferrer fired 23 points spiked by five triples, Cruz had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Mercado produced 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists to help the Batang Pier tie TNT KaTropa on top with identical 7-1 slates.
The three were obtained in a trade that sent star guard Stanley Pringle to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Tuesday.
Sean Anthony added 22 points, 11 rebounds and three steals and rookie Robert Bolick scored 16 points while dishing out 10 assists for NorthPort in the Petron Blaze Saturday Special encounter.
Rookie Ray Parks Jr. finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists but the Elite dropped their second in a row to fall at 5-3.
Blackwater was forced to play all-Filipino for the second straight game after new import Jameel McKay failed to meet necessary requirements.
McKay arrived last Friday as a replacement for Alex Stepheson due to an intestinal bacteria.
In the second game, Magnolia continued its rise from a 0-2 start after posting a third straight win by beating Phoenix Pulse, 99-96.
Paul Lee scored 27 points on 7-of-14 shooting and Import James Farr had 26 points, 18 rebounds, two steals and three blocks as the Hotshots climbed to fourth spot with a 3-2 record.
Rodney Brondial scored five points during a decisive stretch that put Magnolia up 90-79 with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter of their Petron Blaze Saturday Special match.
Phoenix dropped to 2-4 despite 36 points and 20 rebounds from import Richard Howell.
Matthew Wright added 19 points and RJ Jazul posted 12 points for the Fuel Masters.
Scores:
First game:
Northport 127 – Ferrer 23, Anthony 22, Bolick 16, Cruz 16, Mercado 14, Ibeh 10, Taha 10, Tautuaa 8, Lanete 8, Gabayni 0.
Blackwater 99 – Parks 25, Al-Hussaini 16, Digregorio 10, Maliksi 10, Belo 10, Tratter 6, Alolino 5, Sumang 5, Desiderio 5, Javier 4, Salem 3, Cortez 0, Sena 0, Jose 0.
Quarterscores: 29-21, 54-39, 86-65, 127-99
Second game:
Magnolia 99 – Lee 27, Farr 26, Barroca 11, Jalalon 10, Dela Rosa 8, Sangalang 8, Brondial 7, Melton 2, Pascual 0, Pingris 0, Herndon 0.
Phoenix 96 – Howell 36, Weight 19, Jazul 15, Chua 8, Marcelo 7, Mallari 6, Wilson 3, Dennison 2, Perkins 0, Kramer 0, Intal 0.
Quarterscores: 23-24, 47-45, 71-67, 99-96.
