MANILA – Kevin Murphy came up with huge baskets in the endgame as NorthPort Batang Pier cruised to its second straight win with a 110-104 victory over Blackwater Bossing in the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup on Saturday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With the score tied at 100-all, Murphy scored on a go-ahead basket followed by a three-point play to give the Batang Pier a 105-101 lead. Robert Bolick Jr. then extended the lead to 108-101 with a three-pointer.
The Bossing threatened to within 104-108 after a long three-pointer from Jvee Casio but they could not come any closer as Bolick swished two free throws to seal the win for the Batang Pier.
Murphy finished with 47 points, 16 rebounds, four steals and three assists, Bolick chipped in 24 markers, while rookie center John Michael Calma contributed 10 markers for the Batang Pier, which improved to 2-6.
“This is only our second win but we’re happy that we’re going up. It’s all about familiarity siguro sa isa’t isa at adjustments sa game plans. Sana pataas pa,” said Batang Pier head coach Bonnie Tan.
Shawn Glover top-scored with 20 points, Gabriel Banal added 19 markers, while Casio and Mike Ayonayon had 14 and 12 points, respectively, as the Bossing slumped to 1-9 slate.
Meanwhile, NLEX Road Warriors relied on a strong first half avalanche before holding off Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ second half rally for a 110-99 win. The Road Warriors moved up to 6-3, while the Painters slumped to 2-6.
The Road Warriors caught fire early behind Michael Miranda, Celedonio Trollano and Kevin Alas for a 33-13 lead before widening it to its largest of 56-27 late in the second quarter via an Alas conversions.
The Painters slowly chopped the Road Warriors’ deficit in the second half until they came closest at 97-104 but NLEX got an inside hit from Wayne Selden Jr. and back-to-back layups from Alas to preserve the victory.
Alas spearheaded the offense with 28 points, including four outside conversions, Selden chipped in double-double 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Trollano contributed 20 markers for the Road Warriors./PN
BOX SCORE:
NORTHPORT 110 – Murphy 47, Bolick 24, Calma 10, Tolentino 9, Zamar 6, Sumang 6, Chan 3, Taha 2, Santos 2, Munzon 1, Balagasay 0, Caperal 0.
BLACKWATER 104 – Glover 20, Banal 19, Casio 14, Ayonayon 12, Taha 9, Ular 8, Suerte 7, Rosario 7, Ilagan 6, Hill 2, Escoto 0, Digregorio 0, Amer 0.
Quarterscores: 25-21, 49-58, 74-78, 110-104.
