NORTHPORT dug itself out of a deep hole early then blew out NLEX, 114-87, on Thursday in the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Batang Pier fell behind by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, but got out of the funk with a huge second period that saw them outscore the Road Warriors, 35-12.
Arvin Tolentino played a huge role in that second-period binge with 15 points, giving NorthPort the momentum to run away with a 27-point victory to open the conference.
The Road Warriors dropped their first game despite a promising start where they led, 25-9.
NorthPort went up by 31 points in the final seconds before NLEX scored the last four points of the game. The Batang Pier did that by limiting NLEX star Robert Bolick to only three points on 1-for-11 shooting from the field.
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Tolentino finished with a team-high 29 points. Import Kadeem Jack added 25 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals for the Batang Pier.
“We started out flat. Our starters started slow. But the good thing is the second group stepped up,” said NorthPort assistant coach Rensy Bajar.
Allyn Bulanadi led the NorthPort bench mob as he added 14 points, while Joshua Munzon had 12 points in a balanced scoring attack.
With Bolick misfiring, NLEX was led by import Michael Griffin-Watkins' 29 points and 19 rebounds.
The scores:
NorthPort 114 – Tolentino 29, Jack 25, Bulanadi 14, Munzon 12, Yu 8, Navarro 7, Miranda 5, Cuntapay 4, Onwubere 4, Tratter 2, Flores 2, Taha 2, Nelle 0.
NLEX 87 – Griffin-Watkins 29, Rodger 11, Semerad 10, Mocon 10, Amer 6, Torres 6, Nieto 3, Bolick 3, Nermal 3, Herndon 2, Valdez 2, Policarpio 2, Fajardo 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarters: 21-20; 56-41; 91-67; 114-87.
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