BLACKWATER got off to the expected bad start but regained its bearings in time to gut out a 96-89 victory over NorthPort Monday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City.
Don Trollano, Roi Sumang and Mac Belo did the most damage for the Elite, who bucked a listless start to the game, got its bearings in the third period and then hung tough in the face of the Batang Pier's fiery fightback.
As a result, Blackwater joined San Miguel Beer, TNT, Barangay Ginebra and Phoenix Super LPG in the winner's column of the tournament being held in a bubble in Pampanga to offset the COVID-19 pandemic.
The way his charges kept its composure made coach Nash Racela proud as they made him victorious in his first game back at the helm in the PBA.
Before leaving the game in the last four minutes due to a rib injury, Trollano has notched 17 points and 10 rebounds. Sumang and Belo both came off the bench to score 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Sponsored content:
Christian Standhardinger finished with his own double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds to go with six assists, while Sean Anthony tallied his own solid stats line of 22, 13 and six.
But Garvo Lanete was the only other NorthPort player in double figures with 14 and only four in the last three quarters.
Despite their shooting struggles the Batang Pier battled back from being down 67-84 to threaten within 89-93, still 1:01 to go. They even had the chance to move closer when a Frank Golla miss from the left corner.
But Kevin Ferrer lost the ball under pressure from Sumang, with the ball scooped up by Ed Daquioag for a fastbreak layup that made it a six-point game and practically sealed the win.
Team skipper KG Canaleta boomed in his first basket of the game from way out and that proved to be the spark the Elite needed as they proceeded to go on a massive 30-9 run spanning the last two quarters.
Sponsored content:
Sumang and Belo starred in that surge from a 50-56 count and gave Blackwater its first 17-point lead at 82-65.
Despite missing its first four shots and falling behind by 4-15, Blackwater showed resilience by hanging on the coattails of NorthPort before a 6-0 spurt put it on top for the first time at 34-32.
Wilting was far from NorthPort's mind, however, and Standhardinger and Anthony led the way in a fiery fightback that even netted the Batang Pier a 47-38 lead at the half. (NC)
The scores:
Blackwater96 - Sumang 17, Trollano 17, Belo 16, Daquioag 13, Tolomia 8, Magt 8, Desierio 4, Canaleta 3, Salem 3, Dennison 3, Shaw 2, Golla 2, Gabriel 0, Dario 0.
NorthPort 89 - Standhardinger 23, Anthony 22, Lanete 14, Nabong 7, Elorde 7, Taha 5, Manganti 3, Subido 3, Ferrer 3, Cruz 2, Revilla 0.
Quarters: 21-25, 38-47, 79-65, 98-89
