NorthPort sustains charge

MANILA, Philippines — NorthPort sailed its way to a top-seed finish – at least for now – to shore up its twice-to-beat aspirations with an easy 120-93 win over also-ran Blackwater in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Batang Pier blasted the Bossing in the second period, 30-17, to shatter the gates wide open and wrap up their elims campaign with two straight wins at 9-3.

Kadeem Jack dropped 30 points, six rebounds and two steals as NorthPort gained the solo top spot for an inside track to the win-once quarterfinal incentive pending the final standings of Eastern, Meralco and TNT with similar 7-3 slates.

Only those three teams have the chance to catch them at 9-3 and the Batang Pier beat two of them in Eastern, 120-113, and TNT, 100-95.

Later, NLEX (5-6) gained a share of the eighth seed with San Miguel after turning back Rain or Shine (6-5), 122-110, behind Robert Bolick’s 40-point eruption. Bolick added six rebounds, 10 assists and two steals.