PBA: NorthPort stuns NLEX as Cade Flores delivers career night
NorthPort Batang Pier’s Cade Flores during a PBA Philippine CUp game against NLEX Road Warriors. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines — Lowly NorthPort stunned NLEX on Wednesday night, 113-108, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, picking up its second win in a PBA Philippine Cup campaign beset by key player departures.
Cade Flores led the way with a career-best 26 points and 15 rebounds, sparking a third-quarter surge that gave the Batang Pier something to smile about in a conference that has been the opposite of their strong Commissioner’s Cup run.
“It could be anybody’s night. I guess today’s just my day,” said Flores, who drew key support from Fran Yu, Calvin Abueva, and Joshua Munzon.
FEATURED STORIES
The Batang Pier, who are still reeling from the mid-tournament exits of Arvin Tolentino and William Navarro, improved to 2-8.
NLEX got 21 points from Robbie Herndon and 16 apiece from Brandon Ramirez and Robert Bolick Jr. but fell to 7-3 after squandering a double-digit lead and a chance to lock up the No. 1 seed—which could mean avoiding a sister team playoff matchup with Meralco.
NorthPort wraps up its campaign against San Miguel and hopes to close its season on a strong note.
“We want to carry this into the next conference,” said assistant coach Rensy Bajar, who filled in for head coach Bonnie Tan in the post-game press conference.
Advertising by Adpathway
