NORTHPORT finally stepped out of the Phoenix Pulse haze and now has a spark to ignite its run to the PBA Governors Cup playoffs.
With every Batang Pier fielded in chipping in on both ends they carved out an 80-70 victory over the Fuel Masters in a Petron Blaze Saturday Special offering at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The win not only cut short NorthPort's alarming four-game slide but also jacked its record to 2-4 that rekindled its chances for inclusion among the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
It also arrested the Batang Pier's five-game losing streak to the Fuel Masters since last season.
"Siguro, law of averages," said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio. "Di pa kami nanalo ever since last season kaya siguro it's about time na manalo tayo."
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Jarencio reiterating some basic words to his players on the eve of the match also helped.
"In yesterday's practice, sinabi ko sa kanila: 'Let's regroup, let's refocus, iyung goals natin, iyung mind-set natin ayusin natin. Ano lang, one game at a time and then let's make stops.' Iyun lang," related Jarencio.
Foremost among those who heeded their coach's words were Mo Tautuaa, who paced NorthPort with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Mychal Ammons, who notched 12 and six while anchoring the defense on Phoenix import Eugene Phelps.
"Mo playing well, tapos si Ammons stopping Phelps. Malaking bagay iyon, eh," noted Jarencio.
With help defense swarming from all over when he was able to elude Ammons, Phelps was held to only 14 points, 16 below his average.
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Alex Mallari had 15 points to lead Phoenix, which also drew 10 points and as many rebounds from Jason Perkins. RR Garcia was the next best scorer with nine points while Jorey Napoles had eight points and as many boards.
Those were still not enough to offset the void created when Matthew Wright was shut out. Playing despite a foot injury, Wright, who was averaging 21 points, started but played only six minutes, not even getting a shot off.
Still, Phoenix was able to hang on, even taking its first lead at 61-60off a Perkins baseline jumper.
Then NorthPort started putting the final nails to Phoenix's coffin by unleashing a couple of critical runs coming just minutes off each other.
Paolo Taha (14 points) boomed in a triple to spark an initial 8-0 run to give control back to the Batang Pier before Nico Elorde (nine points, five assists) also connected from deep to start a 12-3 exchange that al but put the game away 80-68.
Phoenix failing to find the mark in the stretch was exactly similar to the way it started the game, enabling NorthPort to race to an early 26-12 lead.
Mainly behind Mallari, Perkins and Phelps the Fuel Masters managed to hang around, but ultimately fell way short in the end. (NC)
The scores:
NorthPort 80 - Tautuaa 16, Taha 14, Ammons 12, Lanete 11, Elorde 9, Ferrer 8, Bolick 5, Cruz 4, Anthony 1, Mercado 0, Escoto 0, King 0.
Phoenix 70 - Mallari 15, Phelps 14, Perkins 10, Garcia 9, Napoles 8, Jazul 6, Chua 2, Kramer 2, Marcelo 2, Dennison 2, Wright 0, Potts 0,
Quarterscores: 17-8, 38-31, 58-55, 80-70.
