The NorthPort Batang Pier had overcome much bigger deficits in their swashbuckling showing in the PBA Commissioner's Cup - 23 points versus Rain or Shine and 18 against Barangay Ginebra.
On Friday night at the Cuneta Astrodome, the Batang Pier fought back from 11 down with Robert Bolick providing the coup de grace as NorthPort nipped Meralco, 93-92, to cap the elims with a solid 9-2 win-loss card.
The Batang Pier march into the quarterfinals with a twice-to-beat advantage for the first time in franchise history. And they can even be the top seed should TNT KaTropa drop its final assignment.
Assured of the win-once bonus even before their match with the Bolts, the Batang Pier still set out with a great resolve to perform and win.
They overcame a double-digit deficit and kept their winning romp as Bolick hit the game-winning basket with 4.3 seconds left to play.
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Meralco had a chance to salvage the game but Chris Newsome missed on a reversed shot at the buzzer, and thus, the Bolts dropped to a more precarious position at 3-7.
Bolick scored off Cliff Hodge in his game-winning play, highlighting an 18-point outing also laced with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 31 minutes of action off the bench.
Prince Ibeh came up with 15 points marked by an improved 9-of-16 clip from the stripe. And he added 15 markers in his exciting matchup with Delroy Jones who put in 17 markers, 11 boards and 10 assists in a triple-double effort that went to naught.
Before the game, Ibeh was good for below 40 percent in free throws.
Nico Elorde had a near double-double with 10 points and eight assists while Sol Mercado contributed 12 markers.
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Jones drew solid support from Newsome, Baser Amer and Cliff Hodge, but the group hardly got help from the Meralco bench.
With a more balanced game, the Batang Pier stayed right behind the Bolts before sneaking in the winning punch at the finish. (SB)
