By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE campaign of the Northport Batang Pier in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup is still alive after they defeated top seeds NLEX Road Warriors, 115-90, in their quarterfinal match on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Carried a twice-to-win disadvantage entering the contest, the eighth-seeded Batang Pier came out with a lot of energy and spirit to surprise the Road Warriors and notch the victory that put them halfway into completing an upset in the quarterfinal pairing.
Northport got early traction in the match, with import Michael Qualls and Christian Standhardinger driving their team.
The Batang Pier held a 21-14 lead midway into the opening quarter before extending it to a 10-point distance, 34-24, after the first 12 minutes.
NLEX tried to narrow the gap in the opening moments of the second quarter but Northport did not allow it to gain much headway.
It was a 14-point lead for the Batang Pier, 47-33, at the 4:44 mark.
They kept pouring in on after with Mr. Qualls on a tear, with the team holding a huge lead of 61-40 at the break.
Things continued to go south for NLEX to start the third frame.
Northport built a 26-point advantage, 79-53, with 4:30 to go but the Road Warriors on the lead of import Manny Harris would finish the quarter with an 11-4 run to cut their deficit to 19 points, 83-64, and something to build on entering the last canto.
NLEX made a move to get back in the game at the start of the fourth.
It cut Northport’s lead to 14 points, 95-81, with 5:19 left on the clock.
Tempers flared at the 4:54 mark when Mr. Qualls and NLEX reserve Paul Varilla got entangled under the goal.
Messrs. Qualls and Varilla confronted each other before Poy Erram got into the mix when he elbowed the Northport import in the head.
Disqualifying fouls were handed out to Messrs. Erram and Varilla after, resulting in their automatic ejection.
When play resumed, it was NLEX guard Philip Paniamogan who was penalized for an unsportsmanlike foul on Mr. Standhardinger off a pick.
It was an episode that the Batang Pier would take full advantage of, connecting seven of the eight free throws that resulted from it to stretch their lead to 21 points, 102-81.
They would not look back after that on their way to booking the victory.
Mr. Qualls led all scorers with 39 points to go along with 15 rebounds and five assists.
Mr. Standhardinger had 24 points and 13 boards with Sean Anthony adding 12 points.
JR Quiñahan paced NLEX with 20 points, followed by Kiefer Ravena with 16. Mr. Harris was limited to just 12 markers.
The do-or-die between NLEX and Northport is set for Wednesday, Nov. 27.
3X3 TEAM FOR SEA GAMES
Meanwhile, like the men’s basketball team the 3×3 squad playing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games will be coming from the PBA.
In an announcement made on Sunday night by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc., the 3×3 team will be composed of Chris Newsome of the Meralco Bolts, CJ Perez of the Columbian Dyip, Jason Perkins of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters and Mo Tautuaa of the San Miguel Beermen.
The four were selected from a pool players which started preparing for the biennial regional sporting meet early last month.
The pool included Meralco’s Baser Amer and Raymond Almazan, Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok’s Chris Banchero and Ian Sangalang, San Miguel Terrence Romeo, Blackwater’s Elite Mac Belo and Anthony Semerad, and Northport’s Robert Bolick.
Serving as coach of the team is PBA legend Ronnie Magsanoc, assisted by Moriah Gingerich from University of the Philippines and San Miguel captain Alex Cabagnot.
The team seeks to bag the first-ever SEA Games gold in the event, which is making its debut.
The 3×3 event happens from Dec. 1 to 2 at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
