THE league-leading NorthPort Batang Pier showed they are for real, scoring a victory against a team that they have not beaten for half a decade.

NorthPort nipped perennial tormentor Barangay Kings, 119-116, and tightened their grip of the No. 1 spot in the 49th PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday night, January 8, at the PhilsSports Arena.

It was only NorthPort’s first win against Ginebra in the past five years as it came into the match winless in its previous 14 games against the league’s most popular ballclub.

The huge win hiked NorthPort’s record to 7-1 (win-loss) that brightened its chances of securing a crucial twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinal round.

Ginebra dropped to 5-3, faltering in its bid to force a tie at third place with the Converge FiberXers, who are 6-2.

The victory didn’t come easy as the Batang Pier had to fend off the Kings’ spirited comeback that saw them claw back from an 18-point deficit.

Down by three, Ginebra had the chance to pull even when Justin Brownlee was fouled while attempting a three-point shot with 8.9 seconds left.

Brownlee could only make two of his three free throws but Ginebra still got another opportunity to tie when Joshua Munzon missed one of his two free throws in the next play.

Brownlee, however, committed a costly turnover in the ensuing possession, and NorthPort import Kadeem Jack pegged the final count with a split free throw.

Jack topped the Batang Pier with 32 points while Arvin Tolentino and Munzon threw in 29 and 27 markers, respectively.

Brownlee led the Kings with 23 points.

THE SCORES:

NORTHPORT (119) - Jack 32, Tolentino 29, Munzon 27, Flores 9, Navarro 8, Bulanadi 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 3, Yu 2, Nelle 0, Jalalon 0.

GINEBRA (116) - Brownlee 23, Thompson 17, Rosario 17, Abarrientos 17, Ahanmisi 12, Holt 11, Cu 9, J.Aguilar 8, Tenorio 2.

QUARTERSCORES: 31-27, 67-58, 98-87, 119-116.(CCM)

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• # NorthPort Batang Pier
• #Barangay Kings
• #49th PBA Commissioner’s Cup
• #Sports Basketball