By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Justin Chua’s solid offensive game went for naught as the Blackwater Bossing suffered a 120-93 defeat to the NorthPort Batang Pier to close out their PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City on Saturday night, January 25.
The Bacolod City native big man finished with 15 points, all coming in the first half, to go with eight rebounds and three assists, as the Bossing concluded their campaign with a 3-9 win-loss record.
Reinforcement Kadeem Jack led Batang Pier with 30 points and six rebounds, while Joshua Munzon added 21 markers as they surged to solo first place with a 9-3 win-loss card.
Arvin Tolentino finished with a triple-double of 14 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes, while Allyn Bulanadi and Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha ended with 12 apiece for NorthPort.
“We are really aiming for a strong finish sa final game. Kahit secured na sa quarters, we want to go to the playoffs on a winning note,” Batang Pier head coach Bonnie Tan said after the game.
“Dapat mindset namin, being a young team, is to win as many as we can and then madala namin iyun sa playoffs,” the concurrent University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers team consultant added.
Aside from Chua, RK Ilagan also contributed double-digit output for the Bossing, with 11 markers, as they once again played without injured reinforcement George King in the game.
Meanwhile, the NLEX Road Warriors kept their quarterfinals hopes alive with a 122-110 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Robert Bolick, Jr. finished with a conference-high of 40 points, 10 assists and six rebounds to be named Player of the Game as the Road Warriors improved to a 5-6 win-loss slate.
Michael Watkins added a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds.
Anthony Semerad contributed 17 markers, while Xyrus Torres, Kevin Alas and Javee Mocon contributed 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for NLEX./ASC, WDJ
NORTHPORT 120 — Jack 30, Munzon 21, Tolentino 14, Bulanadi 12, Taha 12, Nelle 7, Navarro 7, Cuntapay 5, Flores 4, Yu 2, Onwubere 2, Tratter 2, Miranda 2.
BLACKWATER 93 — Chua 15, Ilagan 11, Tungcab 9, Escoto 9, Jopia 8, Corteza 8, Kwekuteye 7, Ayonayon 6, Guinto 5, David 5, Mitchell 4, Casio 3, Ponferrada 3, Suerte 0.
Quarterscores: 30-26, 60-43, 90-63, 120-93.