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NorthPort beats Magnolia, 102-99, to grab share of lead

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No Stanley Pringle. No problem

NorthPort beats Magnolia, 102-99, to grab share of lead
NorthPort Batang Pier masked man Moala Tautua (7) drives to drive through three Magnolia Hotshots defenders, from right: Rodney Brondial, James Farr and Robbie Herndon. PBA Media 

The NorthPort Batang Pier hardly felt the absence of star player Stanley Pringle by relying on their height and heft advantage to build a big lead then survived the Magnolia Hotshots rally to prevail, 102-99, yesterday June 12 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Mark Barroca and Paul Lee each drilled a three-pointer to cut the NorthPort lead to just five points, 96-91, but Sean Anthony countered with a jumper during NorthPort’s next play to hike the lead back to seven points, 98-91, with just 1:05 to go in the game. 

Ian Sanggalang then scored from underneath followed by two free throws by Justin Melton which cut the NorthPort lead to just three points, 98-95, with still 35 seconds left to play.

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Sean Anthony then converted four free throws against field goals by Marc Barroca and James Farr to preserve the 102-99 victory.

Anthony finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and five steals to win Player of the Game honors.

With the win the Batang Pier (5 wins, 1 loss) climbed into a tie at the top of the standings of the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup with the Blackwater Elite (5-1). The other teams include the TNT KaTropa (4-1), the Alaska Aces (4-2), the Meralco Bolts (3-3), Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (2-2) and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (2-2), 

Bringing up the rear are the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters (1-3), the Columbian Dyip (1-3), the Hotshots (0-2), the San Miguel Beermen (0-2) and the NLEX Road Warriors (0-5).

TNT and Ginebra are playing as we went to press.

Jonathan Grey and Moala Tautuaa each drilled a three-pointer to fuel a 9-2 NorthPort run which turned a 39-41 deficit into a five-point, 48-43, advantage at halftime.

The Batang Pier continued the assault in the third to hike their advantage to as much as 14 points before settling for an eight-point, 70-62, lead after three quarters.

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