NorthPort stays alive, clips Blackwater

NorthPort isn't about to give up on its season just yet.

Teetering on the brink of elimination, the Batang Pier fought back and played with a sense of urgency to turn back Blackwater, 110-104, and pick up their second straight win in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors' Cup Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

By winning back-to-back games, NorthPort has improved its win-loss record to 2-6 while eliminating Blackwater, which dropped to a 1-9 card.

But while the Batang Pier had kept their hopes alive to catch the last bus to the quarterfinal round, they still need to win their remaining three games.

"We're still breathing," said NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan. "Now we need to take care of business in our next games."

Blackwater was able to take control of the match in the early goings behind Gab Banal and Mike Ayonayon.

The two combined for 25 first-half points to provide the much-needed support to import Shawn Glover.

Banal scored 13 second-quarter points while Ayonayon produced seven in that period alone as the Bossing outscored their rivals, 37-24, in that canto.

But the Batang Pier was able to turn things around in the third period, outscoring the Bossing, 25-20, and able to turn the game into a close encounter.

Kevin Murphy finished with a PBA career-high 47 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc while also pulling down six boards.

Robert Bolick contributed 24 points, including that dagger trey in the last 23 seconds that somehow served as the final nail in the coffin on Blackwater, which will be eliminated early for the second straight conference and five of the last six tournaments.

The Scores:

NORTHPORT 110 – Murphy 47, Bolick 24, Calma 10, Tolentino 9, Zamar 6, Sumang 6, Chan 3, Taha 2, Santos 2, Munzon 1, Balagasay 0, Caperal 0

BLACKWATER 104 – Glover 20, Banal 19, Casio 14, Ayonayon 12, Taha 9, Ular 8, Suerte 7, Rosario 7, Ilagan 6, Hill 2, Escoto 0, DiGregorio 0, Amer 0

QUARTERS: 25-21, 49-58, 74-78, 110-104