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| Kadeem Jack came alive to keep NorthPort alive. PBA Images |
MANILA—NorthPort lived to fight another day in the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals after escaping a comeback bid from Ginebra for a 108-103 win in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Crucial baskets from Kadeem Jack and Arvin Tolentino helped the Batang Pier survive a late scare from the Gin Kings to deny the latter a 4-0 sweep.
NorthPort held a 104-93 lead before Ginebra went on a 10-0 run that cut the lead down to one, 104-103, with 36.8 seconds left.
Jack, though, scored on a fall away jumper that upped the Batang Pier's lead back to three, 106-103, with 18 seconds to go.
Justin Brownlee decided to go for the quick two, but he missed an open layup and Stephen Holt missed a three-pointer off an offensive rebound that could have tied the game.
Tolentino then iced the game with two more free throws even as RJ Abarrientos missed a quick four-pointer before time expired.
Jack finished with 39 points on 17-of-29 shooting, 15 rebounds, and five assists for NorthPort, which forced a Game 5 on Friday night.
Tolentino barely missed out on a triple-double as he rallies 20 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds alongside four steals and one block.
Brownlee and Abarrientos each rallied 18 points, while Troy Rosario added 17 points, 13 rebounds, and one assist for Ginebra, which still holds a 3-1 lead in the series.
The Scores:
NORTHPORT 108 – Jack 39, Tolentino 20, Navarro 16, Munzon 14, Taha 11, Nelle 3, Bulanadi 3, Miranda 2, Onwubere 0
GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Holt 15, Malonzo 12, Thompson 11, J.Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 2, Gray 0, Cu 0
QUARTERS: 21-22, 54-50, 84-74, 108-103
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