The NorthPort Batang Pier, for sure, made good use of the PBA breather during the SEAG hostilities.
Cracking the semifinals with a huge upset of elims topnotcher NLEX, the Batang Pier exerted tremendous effort in training during the break and poured it all in another mind-boggling victory to start their PBA Governors Cup Final Four matchup with the Barangay Ginebra Kings Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier fired on all cylinders and blasted the Kings, 124-90, for the crucial head start in the best-of-five series.
"Maybe we just caught Ginebra on an off night, maybe we benefited more from the long break. But you could see we're the hungrier team and we executed our game plan well, especially on defense," said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio.
Michael Qualls was without equal, exploding for 27 points in the first half and finishing with 38 markers and 15 rebounds in a sustained rampage since his PBA entry as a mere import sub.
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Christian Standhardinger had his own double-double outing with 16 points and 15 boards, and there's the NorthPort bench overwhelming their Ginebra counterparts.
Garvo Lanete and Sol Mercado led the charge of the NorthPort reserves, delivering a combined output of 38 markers, including nine hits from the three-point land.
The Batang Pier came through with a 19-of-40 three-point shooting in all compared to the Kings' mere 10-of-32 clip - among the key factors in the Batang Pier's shocking 34-point rout.
"We put in the needed help on our big three (Qualls, Standhardinger and Sean Anthony), and I think we did a wonderful job on the defensive end," said Lanete, sparkling with 24 points, including six three-pointers.
"But no time to celebrate yet. We're up against a very strong team," Lanete also said.
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From a 10-point lead through the third period, 78-68, Qualls and Lanete fired back-to-back treys to start the fourth quarter. And the rout was on.
Despite lesser preparation because of coach Tim Cone's tenure with Gilas in the SEA Games, the Kings did well at the start, even taking a 22-20 edge in the opening quarter.
But the NorthPort seized control at the half, 51-39, as Qualls imposed himself in the second period.
Justin Brownlee, meanwhile, was a shade of his usual self, struggling for nine points in the first half and 24 overall.
Stanley Pringle was the only other Ginebra player who finished in double figures with 21.
LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter, the three other Ginebra players who rendered duty in the SEAG, were held to a combined output of 15. (SB)
