Stunning victory

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NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio had plenty of praise for his charges following a dominant outing—one that dug his crew out of a tight fix.

“We just came out strong, aggressive, and full of energy. That’s [all there is to] it,” the animated mentor told scribes in Filipino on Monday night after NorthPort’s utter domination of top-ranked NLEX, 115-90, Monday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

It was a huge victory for the Batang Pier, and the color that developed late in the game might make it a complete one for Jarencio’s wards.

With under six minutes remaining in the final period, NLEX’s Paul Varilla fouled NorthPort import Michael Qualls, who tripped and stepped on the Road Warriors’ guard. A scuffle ensued and star big man Poy Erram threw a punch and flashed a fighting pose, while Varilla also snuck in a punch during the fracas.

Both were tossed and face possible sanctions, one that could include potential suspensions that could bar them from the winner-take-all knockout match on Wednesday.

Qualls was prevailed upon to keep his cool and managed to finish the game, assembling a strong performance of 39 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists.

“He’s such a delight to watch,” said Jarencio. “He told me he wants to make the semifinals.

TNT avoided a similar fate and made sure it wouldn’t need its twice-to-beat cushion. But it went through the wringer and needed to erase an 18-point deficit before dethroning champion Magnolia, 98-97, in the later game.

Ray Parks Jr. hit two pressure-packed free throws in the final six seconds of the contest, preserving the all-game brilliance of Jayson Castro, who scattered a team-best 30 points.

KJ McDaniels was just as clutch, emphatically erasing Romeo Travis’ shot and snuffing the Hotshots’ title-retention bid.

“We didn’t expect we’d come back,” said KaTropa coach Bong Ravena, whose wards trailed by big margins in the second half. “Hard work pulled us through.”

“We’re really a totally different team with [Castro] around,” Ravena said of his chief playmaker, who was playing his second game back from a calf injury.

The victory pits TNT against sister team Meralco in a semifinal duel that begins after the Southeast Asian Games.

“They’re at their peak, they are on a roll. So we have to take care of business and be ready (come game time),” said Ravena.

NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger put together another steady outing of 24 points and 13 rebounds.

“The rest of the team is well-motivated, too,” Jarencio said, tipping his hat to all of his locals who contributed to the winning effort.

And Jarencio needs everyone’s contributions as the Batang Pier hope to complete the upset minus star rookie Robert Bolick, who is out for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury.

The Road Warriors sorely missed Manny Harris’ sweet shooting. The NLEX import, who twice registered 40-point performances this conference, was held to just 12 points.

The winner of this quarterfinal pairing will go on to battle against crowd darling and perennial title contender Barangay Ginebra.

And Jarencio is glad he is halfway to making sure NorthPort is that squad.

“This is only the first half (of our goal),” Jarencio said, whose club is looking for its first Final Four appearance in three years. “The players will go all out in the second half this Wednesday.”