MANILA – Christian Standhardinger showed his former team what he is capable of. The NorthPort Batang Pier pulled off a 127-119 upset over San Miguel Beermen in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup last night at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Standhardinger, who was traded by the Beermen to Batang Pier for Moala Tautuaa last week, had an impressive debut for his new team with 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists.
Aside from the Filipino-German big man, there were plenty of heroes for Batang Pier. New import Michael Qualls tallied 40 points and 18 rebounds while Jervy Cruz, Kevin Ferrer and Russel Escoto submitted 21, 17 and 10, respectively.
NorthPort got the separation it needed in the final two minutes on a layup by Qualls, free throws by Juan Nicholas Elorde and Cruz, and a jumper from Standhardinger to turn a 117-all score to a 124-117 count.
The Beermen had its last push via an inside hit from June Mar Fajardo to make it a five-point game. But a booming triple from Elorde increased Batang Pier’s lead to eight with 15.5 seconds left.
Dezmine Wells had near triple-double of 56 points, eight rebounds and nine assists while Fajardo added double-double 22 points and 14 rebounds as the Beermen dropped to 5-2.
In the first game, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters put an end to its four-game losing run after a 99-82 domination over the Blackwater Elite. Both teams are now tied with 2-5 win-loss slate.
After a slow start, the Painters went on a run in the second frame behind Rey Nambatac and Eduardo Daquioag for a 49-40 halftime score but the Elite countered with a rally at the onset of second half to regain a 56-52 edge.
ROS easily recovered the lead to end the third frame and it continued its run in the fourth with triples from Beau Belga for a 75-67 edge. Blackwater made its last push to come to within 80-84 but Nambatac and Kwame Alexander sealed the win for ROS.
Nambatac finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Belga and Alexander added 17 markers apiece as the Painters.
Bobby Ray Parks Jr. led the way with
double-double 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Elite./PN
