Target in sight

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With another gutsy performance in the stretch, NorthPort finally completed a dream elimination round run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after a nipping of Columbian that meant the franchise’s first-ever twice-to-beat privilege in the playoffs.

Robert Bolick’s missed layup with 2.8 seconds was deemed good after a review by game officials, who called a goal-tending violation on Lester Prosper that resulted in a 110-108 win at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Batang Pier will end up No. 2 at worst, still owning a win-once incentive in the quarterfinals as they continue chasing their goal of a championship run.

“Those were the breaks of the game and I will take it,” NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio said after his charges rose to 8-2, which sealed the second-best record no matter what the result of their last game against Meralco would be. “A win is a win.”

Prosper was slapped with a goal-tending violation on a technicality: His hand touched the rim as he challenged Bolick’s shot, which rimmed out in the dying seconds.

That saved the day for NorthPort, who could end up at 8-3 at the very least. The Batang Pier could still end up tied with other squads, but they have beaten all those in the running for that record, meaning they will own the winner-over-the-other or quotient tiebreaks.

A win against the Bolts on July 12, though, could give the Batang Pier No. 1, further sweetening this dream run that was highlighted by a five-game winning streak against the veritable big boys in the conference.

“But that would all amount to nothing if we lose focus at this time and not win our [quarterfinal] playoff,” Jarencio said. “Our job is actually just starting, and it will be a lot harder.”

That makes the Batang Pier’s playoff protection crucial in a conference where powerhouse teams could end up in the bottom rungs of the playoff ladder.

Nico Elorde stepped up big time for Jarencio, hitting three straight triples that had the Batang Pier scampering to a 108-103 lead heading into the last two minutes, only for NorthPort to allow the Dyip to tie it all up at 108 after a CJ Perez tip-in with 8.1 seconds left.

In the other game, Terrence Jones completed his second PBA triple-double to power TNT to an easy 102-81 victory over Rain or Shine that put the KaTropa closer toward a top-two finish.

Jones had 33 points, 21 rebounds and 13 assists, doing it all for the red-hot KaTropa, who rose to 8-1 overall and could put a lock on No. 1 with a sweep of their remaining two games.

The Elasto Painters took a fifth loss in eight games and are still three wins from making the playoffs outright.