NorthPort win over Alaska sends Barangay Ginebra, Phoenix to KO game for last QF ticket

Already assured of a playoff spot, NorthPort Batang Pier made sure not to rest on their laurels against the Alaska Aces after walking away with a 122-94 victory in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup on Thursday in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Batang Pier's win set up a knockout battle between the defending champion Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters for the last ticket to the quarterfinals.

The winner between that match will face top seed TNT Tropang Giga while second seed Meralco Bolts will face no. 7 NLEX Road Warriors. Both the Bolts and Tropang Giga hold a twice-to-beat advantage.

In the best-of-three series, the Magnolia Hotshots will play the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters while the San Miguel Beermen are scheduled to play NorthPort in the other bracket.

Alaska, meanwhile, finished with a 3-8 card and had already been eliminated following its loss to the Beermen on Wednesday.

Robert Bolick flaunted a triple-double performance to lift the Batang Pier to their sixth win after the former San Beda standout poured in 22 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. He also grabbed 13 rebounds and the same number of assists.

Aside from his heroics, NorthPort also leaned on four other players who had double-digit outputs as they missed out the services of Greg Slaughter and Sean Anthony.

Jamie Malonzo carved out 21 points, six rebounds, and four dimes while Paolo Taha was the spark off the bench, chipping in 18 markers in 24 minutes of play.

Sidney Onwubere and Troy Rike posted 13 and 12 points, respectively.

"I would not have been able to do this without the trust of the coaching staff so I really credit them," said Bolick, whose output tonight made him the first player with a triple-double since Calvin Abueva's feat last November against Terrafirma.

With a tough task ahead against powerhouse team San Miguel, NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio said they are just glad to build momentum heading into the playoff round.

"We are really building a winning culture here in the team," he said.

"This is a good momentum for us because, at least, we're coming off a win because we all know San Miguel is a mighty team. We all know it's a champion team."

The Aces, meanwhile, were led by Jeron Teng who registered 18 points, six rebounds, and three steals while Mike Digregorio and Abu Tratter each had 13 markers.

The scores:

NorthPort 122 - Bolick 22, Malonzo 21, Taha 18, Onwubere 13, Rike 12, Doliguez 7, Ferrer 7, Balanza 6, Elorde 5, Subido 5, Grey 4, Faundo 2, Lanete 0,

Alaska 94 - Teng 18, Tratter 13, Digregorio 13, Adamos 10, Casio 9, Banal 7, Brondial 5, Browne 5, Marcelino 4, Stockton 4, Ebona 3,  Ilagan 3, Publico 0

Quarter scores: 28-20, 61-43, 94-78, 122-94

—MGP, GMA News