MUSCLE-FLEXER: NorthPort solidifies twice-to-beat hopes after ripping Blackwater

NorthPort flexed its full arsenal in a scoring clinic to blast an all-Filipino Blackwater, 120-93, and boost its bid for a quarterfinals twice-to-beat advantage in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup Saturday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Import Kadeem Jack delivered 30 points in an 11-of-17 field goal shooting to lead all 13 Batang Pier players who contributed on offense for the squad’s 9-3 win-loss record finish in the elimination round.

“As coach Bonnie (Tan) would always tell us, catch all the wins given to us with both hands. Hopefully, we’ll end up at No. 1 or No. 2 spot after this elimination,” assistant coach Rensy Bajar said following the lopsided game.

“Yesterday the coaches especially coach Bonnie reminded the players that we need to finish strong in the elimination round.”

Taking advantage of the Bossing missing George King because of an ankle injury, NorthPort got its way on offense scoring a rare 30-point output in all four quarters.

Arvin Tolentino came up with a triple-double of 14 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds while Joshua Munzon finished with 21 points for the Batang Pier, who will still await the results of other playoffs incentives contenders Meralco, TNT and Hong Kong Eastern to determine if they would land in the Top Two.

“We just want to come out and finish strong. We’ve been working hard all year and we don’t want to have a letdown going into the playoffs. I just want to bring the intensity on defense and go out and finish strong today and we did that. Happy with the results which we want to try and bring into the playoffs,” Munzon said.

Allyn Bulanadi and Paolo Taha chipped in 12 points each for NorthPort, which shot an amazing 57 percent from the field.

The Batang Pier outplayed the Bossing in the second quarter, taking a 60-43, lead at halftime after a slim four-point advantage after the opening frame.

NorthPort cruised from there as Taha soared for a layup that opened a 109-73 lead in the last seven minutes of the game.

King helplessly watched from the sidelines as Blackwater ended its campaign with a 3-9 mark.

Justin Chua had 15 points and eight rebounds to pace the Bossing while RK Ilagan scored 11 points.

The scores:

NORTHPORT (120) — Jack 30, Munzon 21, Tolentino 14, Bulanadi 12, Taha 12, Nelle 7, Navarro 7, Cuntapay 5, Flores 4, Yu 2, Onwubere 2, Tratter 2, Miranda 2.

BLACKWATER (93) — Chua 15, Ilagan11, Tungcab 9, Escoto 9, Jopia 8, Corteza 8, Kwekuteye 7, Ayonayon 6, Guinto 5, David 5, Mitchell 4, Casio 3, Ponferrada 3, Suerte 0.

Quarters: 30-26, 60-43, 90-63, 120-93.