ARVIN Tolentino scored 29 points as NorthPort extended its winning streak to four games with a 112-96 blowout win over TNT on Friday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Tolentino fuelled the Batang Pier by scoring 22 points in the first half, building a sizeable lead that the Tropang Giga could not overcome. NorthPort improved to 4-1 to remain as one of the hottest teams in the league.
So dominant were the Batang Pier that they even led by as many as 32 points against one of the traditional league powerhouses.
RR Pogoy had 34 points in a losing effort as TNT dropped to 2-3, losing for the second straight time.
The Batang Pier didn’t show any signs of rust after a 26-day break. The last time they played was March 10 when they beat Meralco, 90-85.
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“’Yung request ko (sa kanila) was to stay consistent in practice para maganda ‘yung pinapakita nila. Binigay naman nila ‘yung laro na gusto natin,” said NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan.
JM Calma also delivered for NorthPort with 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Batang Pier, who also got 14 points from Joshua Munzon.
The Batang Pier outscored the Tropang Giga, 32-18, at the end of the first quarter. They eventually led, 66-34, in the fourth quarter on their way to their biggest win of the conference.
The scores:
NorthPort 112 – Tolentino 29, Calma 22, Munzon 14, Flores 9, Bulanadi 7, Lucero 6, Navarro 6, Taha 5, Rosales 4, Amores 3, Paraiso 3, Zamar 2, Yu 0, Cuntapay 0.
TNT 96 – Pogoy 34, Aurin 18, Oftana 13, Galinato 7, Montalbo 6, Khobuntin 5, Castro 4, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Ponferada 3, Williams 2, Ebona 0, Varilla 0, Reyes 0, Heruela 0, M. Ganuelas-Rosser 0.
Quarters: 32-18; 61-34; 85-57; 112-96.
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