MANILA – NorthPort Batang Pier got back on the winning track in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup after a 133-107 rout of Terrafirma Dyip on Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Arvin Tolentino posted a triple-double of 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists to set the tone for the Batang Pier’s lopsided win, their third in six matches so far this conference.
Venky Jois made his return from one-game absence to tally 26 points; William Navarro contributed 18 markers, while Cade Flores and Jiovani Jalalon ended with 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Batang Pier.
Batang Pier assistant coach Rensy Bajar said the coaching staff urged the players to step up their energy on defense after suffering back-to-back losses to the Meralco Bolts and the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots.
“We came from two consecutive losses, so kinausap ng coaching staff ‘yung mga players, hiningi lang naman namin sa mga players (na ipakita nila) ‘yung energy and ‘yung willingness to defend,” Bajar said.
Christian Standhardinger top-scored for the Dyip with 22 points, rookie Didat Hanapi added 20 markers, Kevin Ferrer and Louie Sangalang had 14 points apiece, while Antonio Hester and Stanley Pringle had 12 and 10, respectively. They dropped to 0-6.
Meanwhile, the Bolts survived a tough stand by the Hotshots for an 82-74 victory at the Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism, Sports, and Cultural Center in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
Ahead by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Bolts saw their lead cut to 74-70 after a three-pointer from Hotshots’ Aris Dionisio with over a minute left in the fourth quarter.
The Bolts, however, responded with back-to-back inside conversion from Allen Durham and Kier John Quinto and two free throws from Chris Newsome to make it an 80-70 advantage with under a minute left.
Newsome top-scored for the Bolts with 21 points, Quinto added 16 markers, while Durham and ended with 15 and 10 points, respectively, as the Bolts improved to a 5-1 win-loss slate to a tie with TNT Tropang Giga. The Hotshots dropped to 3-3./PN
BOX SCORE:
NORTHPORT 133 – Jois 26, Tolentino 23, Navarro 18, Flores 15, Jalalon 12, Amores 8, Onwubere 7, Munzon 6, Taha 6, Yu 5, Nelle 3, Tratter 2, Bulanadi 2, Cuntapay 0.
TERRAFIRMA 107 – Standhardinger 22, Hanapi 20, Ferrer 14, Sangalang 14, Hester 12, Pringle 10, Hernandez 5, Ramos 5, Cahilig 5, Olivario 0.
Quarterscores: 33-11, 62-41, 96-75, 133-107.
