PBA: NorthPort keeps playoff bid alive, eliminates Blackwater
Northport import Kevin Murphy. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Hell-bent on staying in the race for a playoff spot, NorthPort on Saturday night hit all the important shots down the stretch to squeak past and eventually eliminate Blackwater, 110-104, in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Import Kevin Murphy did most of the heavy lifting, scoring 47 points and 16 rebounds, and four steals to lead all of Batang Pier.
Robert Bolick, meanwhile, added 24 off the bench in a gutsy stand at Smart Araneta Coliseum that had the club improving to 2-6 in the Governors’ Cup.
“Our veterans never gave up,” said coach Bonnie Tan, whose charges finally got a streak going after a dry spell that hounded the first half of their campaign. “Even if this is just our second win, we’re still happy that we’re still going upwards.”
Reinforcement Shawn Glover had 20 points to pace the Bossing, while Gab Banal, JVee Casio, and Mike Ayonayon all finished with at least 12 each in the losing effort that doomed the club to a ghastly 1-9 record.
NorthPort, despite a shaky start to the conference, can still stage a major coup should it do well in its last three games.
“Hopefully [this affords us] some momentum,” Tan said of a steep trek that will run through Magnolia, Rain or Shine, and TNT.
The Bossing can still fight for pride—if they intend to—when they end their conference against the 4-3 Hotshots.
