NORTHPORT showed its game is not anchored on offense alone.
The Batang Pier used a stifling defense to get their offense going, resulting in a 113-110 thriller over the Magnolia Hotshots Thursday and an early entry into the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The top-seeded NorthPort crew put their acts together starting in the third quarter, where it outscored Magnolia, 36-15, to raze a 14-point deficit before hanging tough to withstand the latter's endgame surge.
In the end, the Batang Pier did not let their win-once advantage over the eighth-ranked Hotshots go to waste and realized only their third semifinal stint in franchise history.
NorthPort is now awaiting the winner of the other quarterfinals pairing, pitting Barangay Ginebra and Meralco, for its opponent in the upcoming best-of-seven semis.
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There is enough time for NorthPort to savor the victory that was partly made possible by harassing Magnolia to a 7-of-19 field shooting and nine of its total 22 turnovers in the third period that plucked the Batang Pier out of a 47-61 halftime bind and into an 83-76 spread.
"Sa first half siguro masyado kaming tight at the same time gusto kaagad naming manalo right in the first quarter pa lang. Siyempre, pinaghandaan kami, ang ganda rin ng depensa ng Magnolia," said coach Bonnie Tan's chief deputy, Rensy Bajar, in the post-game presser
"Kung ano 'yung ibinigay sa amin ng Magnolia sa first half iyun din 'yung ibinigay namin sa kanila sa second half, which is... hustle, energy, at the same time 'yung pressure defense namin. Kaya nakahabol kami in that third quarter.
Offense proved hardly a problem as Kadeem Jack punched in 30 points to go with 10 rebounds, five steals and three blocks while Arvin Tolentino tossed in 25 points and William Navarro 15 points in leading the Batang Pier's 49-31 advantage in bench points.
"Every practice tsina-challenge ni coach Bonnie (Tan), especially the second group because going to the playoffs, Arvin, Josh (Munzon), even Kadeem, pinaghahandaan na iyan ng teams," said Bajar.
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"That's why we need everybody to be involved, not only in defense but also on offense."
Mark Barroca led Magnolia with a playoff career-high 26 points, with Ricardo Ratliffe adding 22 points and 19 rebounds. Paul Lee, the 10th and last man fielded by coach Chito Victolero, also scored 22 points with the last 12 of those coming in the final 5:17 of the game.
Lee boomed in the last two of his three four-pointers in that stretch, helping keep the Hotshots within striking distance from an 87-101 deficit. But with them down, 109-112, and only less than five seconds left, he missed another heave from the second arc in the face of Jack's oncoming challenge. (NC)
The Scores :
NORTHPORT 113 - Jack 30, Tolentino 25, Navarro 15, Nelle 12, Bulanadi 12, Flores 10, Munzon 5, Yu 4, Tratter 0, Taha 0.
MAGNOLIA 110- Barroca 26, Ratliffe 22, Lee 22, Lucero 13, Sangalang 7, Dionisio 6, Abueva 6, Lastimosa 4, Dela Rosa 4, Alfaro 0, Ahanmisi 0.
QUARTERS: 25-32, 47-61, 83-76, 113-110
