NorthPort closed out its elims stint with a critical 98-96 decision over Barangay Ginebra and thus booked an outright quarterfinals entry in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday night.
The Batang Pier unleashed a key six-point binge to break an 87-all standoff and hung tough to the finish for a closing 5-7 win-loss mark in the elims that guaranteed them of passage into the post-elims play.
Left to contend for the eighth and last slot in the Final Eight are Alaska Milk (4-6), Columbian Dyip (4-7) and Rain or Shine (4-7).
Michael Qualls exploded for 30 points and 13 rebounds, Sean Anthony and Christian Standhardinger struck for 18 and 17 points, respectively, while Paolo Taha came through with huge plays at the finish as North Port stopped Ginebra's rampage and sent the Kings to a 7-4 windup.
The Kings are to settle for No. 3 seeding in the playoffs.
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With the game in the balance, Taha came through big time in grabbing a crucial loose ball and later knocked in a free throw.
As Taha deliberately missed the last end of his charities with 1.1 ticks to go, the Kings grabbed the rebound and had one final crack at salvaging the game.
With 0.8 left in the clock, the Kings, however, were no longer able to run a decent play, and the Batang Pier came through with the big win enabling them to join NLEX, Meralco, Ginebra, TNT, San Miguel and Magnolia in the next round.
Kevin Ferrer was another NorthPort player who scored in double figures with 11 while Taha finished with seven markers, three rebounds and two assists for the Batang Pier who bucked a shaky start.
The Kings took control early, leading by nine in the opening quarter and had a largest margin of 12.
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After falling behind by six late in the game, the Kings had their chance to secure the game but Justin Brownlee missed a jumper from eight feet then Japeth Aguilar muffed a tip-in.
The Batang Pier essentially settled the outcome of the game as Taha beat everybody for the loose ball
Brownlee finished with 31 markers and nine boards for the Gin Kings who also drew double-digit outputs from Stanley Pringle (18), LA Tenorio (15) and Aguilar (14). (SB)
The scores:
NorthPort 98 - Qualls 30, Anthony 18, Standhardinger 17, Ferrer 11, Taha 7, Cruz 6, Lanete 5, Mercado 2, Elorde 2, King 0.
Ginebra 96 - Brownlee 31, Pringle 18, Tenorio 15, Aguilar 14, Thompson 7, Chan 4, Dela Cruz 4, Devance 3, Mariano 0, Caperal 0.
Quarterscores: 20-29, 51-52, 75-73, 98-96.
