NORTHPORT caught another big fish in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Friday night.
Playing without injured import Venky Jois, the Batang Pier proceeded to demolish the San Miguel Beermen, 115-101, to clinch a third straight win at the Philsports Arena.
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Northport improved to a 5-2 record and dealt another beating to a perennial PBA title contender after downing TNT Tropang Giga a week ago.
Coach Bonnie Tan though remained humble in victory.
“We’re just lucky na kulang-kulang din yung kalaban and medyo off sila,” he said.
With Jois in street clothes to rest a hurting hamstring, six Northport players finished in double figures led by the 28 points of main man Arvin Tolentino on 3-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, where the team went 15-of-32.
Joshua Munzon added 16, while rookie Cade Flores remained consistent with his all-around game of 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Another rookie in Brent Paraiso contributed 11 points, the same as sophomore big man JM Calma, who also had eight rebounds, while veteran gunner Jeff Chan was likewise active on offense with 10.
“I’m happy with the way my locals played, especially yung mga rookies namin who stayed consistent. We shot well from the three-point area, yung field goal namin okay din. Pati yung free throw, (shooting)” said Tan.
NorthPort snaps SMB streak
The loss snapped the three-game winning run of the Beermen as they fell to 3-2 in their first game since bread-and-butter June Mar Fajardo went down with a fractured hand.
Ivan Aska led San Miguel with 28 points, and Marcio Lassiter continued his hot-shooting streak by going 4-of-5 from downtown for 16 points.
The Beermen played catch-up in the first half, but were lurking behind the Batang Pier as they closed within 73-74 in the third period.
But Fran Yu, Flores, Prince Caperal, Tolentino, and even rookie John Amores combined for a 16-1 run to hike the lead back to double digit, 89-75.
The Beermen offered little resistance from there and trailed at it biggest at 113-87 late in the final quarter.
The scores
Northport (115) - Tolentino 28, Munzon 16, Flores 15, Calma 11, Paraiso 11, Chan 10, Caperal 8, Yu 8, Amores 6, Taha 2, Ayaay 0, Balagasay 0, Salado 0.
San Miguel (101) - Aska 26, Tautuaa 18, Lassiter 16, Perez 11, Ross 10, Cruz 10, Brondial 8, Mallilin 2, Bulanadi 0.
Quarterscores: 29-22; 55-48; 92-77; 115-101.
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