NorthPort finally ended a twice-to-beat curse.

But the top-seeded Batang Pier needed to hang tough in a wild windup for a 113-110 cardiac victory over gritty Magnolia to snatch a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup semifinals seat Thursday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Batang Pier survived veteran Hotshots guard Paul Lee’s fourth quarter explosion, including a crucial four-pointer that cut NorthPort’s comfortable 14-point lead to just one with under two minutes left, for just their third semis stint in franchise history.

The Batang Pier will battle in the best-of-seven semis the survivor between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco in the other quarters pairing. The Kings lead the best-of-three series, 1-0.

Import Kadeem Jack had a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds while adding three assists and showing his defensive prowess with five steals and three blocks to lead NorthPort, which trailed by 14 at the halftime break.

“In the first half we were too tight and at the same time we were too eager to win it in the first quarter. Magnolia really prepared for us. They are the No. 1 defensive team in this conference and we are aware of that,” Batang Pier assistant coach Rensy Bajar said.

“That’s why in the second half we adjusted and at the same time whatever Magnolia threw at us in the first half, we just returned the favor in the second half with our hustle, energy and at the same time pressure defense.”

The Batang Pier almost squandered a 14-point fourth quarter lead, 101-87, when the Hotshots rallied to trim down their deficit to 107-106 after Lee nailed a four-pointer with 1:32 left.

Magnolia kept it close from there and even had a chance to take the lead but Lee missed a four-point bomb. Hotshots import Ricardo Ratliffe grabbed the offensive rebound and got into the foul line.

Ratliffe sank his first charity to cut the Hotshots deficit to 112-110 but committed a free throw violation when he hesitated on his second attempt.

Allyn Bulanadi split his foul shots on the other end as NorthPort ended its long semifinal drought and moved on to the next round.

The Batang Pier, whose last Final Four appearance was back in the 2019 Governor’s Cup, also banished the ghost of squandering twice-to-beat incentives in the quarterfinals. NorthPort, then under the Globalport banner, was booted out in two games by lower-seeded Star (Magnolia) in the 2015 Governors’ Cup and suffered the same fate at the hands of San Miguel Beer 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

Arvin Tolentino finished with 25 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter, Will Navarro got 15 while Evan Nelle and Bulandi added 12 points each for NorthPort. Cade Flores added 10 markers.

The scores:

NORTHPORT (113) — Jack 30, Tolentino 25, Navarro 15, Nelle 12, Bulanadi 12, Flores 10, Munzon 5, Yu 4, Tratter 0, Taha 0.

MAGNOLIA (110) — Barroca 26, Ratliffe 22, Lee 22, Lucero 13, Sangalang 7, Dionisio 6, Abueva 6, Lastimosa 4, Dela Rosa 4, Alfaro 0, Ahanmisi 0.

Quarters: 25-32, 47-61, 83-76, 113-110.