NORTHPORT is admittedly on a mission and Michael Qualls again personified that desire.
Qualls wound up with game-highs of 39 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Batang Pier to a wire-to-wire 115-90 win over the NLEX Road Warriors Monday to force a deciding game in their PBA Governors Cup quarterfinals duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The other threats in what NLEX coach Yeng Guiao termed as NorthPort's "three-headed monster," Christian Standhardinger and Sean Anthony, also chipped in their ample share in helping the eighth-ranked Batang Pier negate the top-seeded team's twice-to-win advantage.
The Batang Pier can now reprise what the eighth-seeded Powerade Tigers pulled off in the 2012 Philippine Cup, which was to upset top-ranked B-Meg in their quarterfinals duel.
But coach Pido Jarencio is pleased enough that his team's bid to make the semifinals is still alive. "Basta iyung team, iyung goal to be in the semis," he said.
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"After the semis tingnan natin kung paano tayo," added Jarencio. "At least even na (count), 1-1."
Standhardinger added 24 markers and 14 boards, Anthony came off the bench for 12 points while Kevin Ferrer, Paolo Taha, Sol Mercado and Jerramy King also did their part as Northport reduced NLEX to a mere shadow of its former dominant self in the eliminations.
JR Quinahan led the Road Warriors with 20 points, Kiefer Ravena had 16 points and Jericho Cruz 12. But import Manny Harris was limited to just 12 points, 20 below his average, as he shot just 5-for-18 from the field and also committed five turnovers.
More numbers also explain why the Batang Pier has now dealt the Road Warriors two of their last three losses.
NorthPort lorded it over the boards 62-49 and scored 26 points off its 24 offensive rebounds, putting into more concrete form the Batang Pier's determination to live and fight another day.
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"I'm so happy na we were aggressive. Full force talaga, pati second group helping out the first group. Kaya more balanced attack tonight," said Jarencio.
"We were making our shots, we were being aggressive, we were doing well on defense. Kaya siguro iyung score dumating na lang iyon. Ang point dito, nasunod gameplan."
The rubber match is set Wednesday, also at the Big Dome, with the combatants coming into the game with bad blood between them.
With NorthPort comfortably ahead 95-81, 4:54 left, Qualls, Standhardinger, Paul Varilla and Poy Erram figured in a scrum.
After drawing a foul from Varilla during a drive, Qualls landed awkwardly and stepped on Varilla. That did not sit well with Erram, who lunged and landed an arm behind Qualls' head. In the commotion, Varilla also hit Standhardinger with an elbow.
Varilla and Erram were assessed an F2 each and consequently ejected, their fate for the do-or-die game to be officially decided on Tuesday.
A direct aftermath of the incident was NLEX guard Philip Paniamogan getting slapped with an F1 for hitting Standhardinger with an elbow to the stomach while the latter was trying to set a pick.
All those infractions were parlayed into charities by the aggrieved parties, stretching NorthPort's lead to 106-81.
The scores:
NorthPort 115 - Qualls 39, Standhardinger 24, Anthony 12, Ferrer 9, King 8, Escoto 5, Taha 5, Elorde 5, Lanete 3, Cruz 3, Mercado 2.
NLEX 90 - Quinahan 20, Ravena 16, Harris 12, Cruz 11, Erram 6, Soyud 6, Alas 5, Paniamogan 4, Varilla 3, Galanza 3, Ighalo 2, Miranda 2, Fonacier 0.
Quarterscores: 34-24, 61-40, 83-64, 115-90.
