MANILA – NorthPort Batang Pier finally returned to their winning ways via a 95-92 escape over Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
From an 82-all deadlock, the Batang Pier went on a 7-2 blast via a triple by Jerrick Balanza and two pointers from John Michael Calma and Arwind Santos for an 89-85 upperhand.
Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 88-89 via a Javee Mocon triple but NorthPort responded with a layup from Shej Roi Sumang and a three-pointer by Kevin Ferrer to increase the edge to 94-90 with under a minute left.
Mocon chopped the deficit to 92-94 with his two free throws but it was increased to 95-92 via a split free throw by Batang Pier’s Robert Bolick Jr. The Fuel Masters still had a chance to tie it but Jason Perkins misfired his three-point attempt.
Sumang and Ferrer finished the game with 18 points each, Bolick added 17 markers, while Jamie Malonzo and Santos contributed 16 and 13 markers, respectively, as the Batang Pier snapped its six-game slide to improve to 3-6.
Matthew Wright ended with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Sean Anthony and rookie Tyler Tio added 17 and 15 markers, respectively, as the Fuel Masters suffered its fifth straight loss to drop to 2-7.
In the first game, June Mar Fajardo took charge in the endgame as the San Miguel Beermen (9-1) escaped with a 109-108 overtime win against Terrafirma Dyip (0-9) to solidify its hold on the top spot.
With the score tied at 90-all, Fajardo converted back-to-back three-point plays for a 98-92 Beermen lead but the Dyip forced an overtime on two consecutive triples by John Paul Calvo.
Fajardo scored four quick points to start the extension period as the Beermen took a 104-103 lead. The Dyip regained the lead at 108-106 on five straight points by rookie Allen Mina but Fajardo completed another three-point play to give the win to SMB.
Fajardo flirted with triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, while Marcio Lassiter and Jaymar Perez chipped in 23 and 20 markers, respectively, as the Beermen.
BOX SCORE:
NORTHPORT 95 – Sumang 18, Ferrer 18, Bolick 17, Malonzo 16, Santos 13, Balanza 6, Ayaay 5, Calma 2, Dela Cruz 0, Taha 0.
PHOENIX 92 – Wright 20, Anthony 17, Tio 15, Mocon 14, Lalata 12, Perkins 9, Jazul 3, Rios 2, Muyang 0, Serrano 0, Pascual 0, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 21-28, 44-45, 69-71, 95-92./PN
