The NorthPort Batang Pier overhauled a 17-point deficit and beat the Converge FiberXers for their first win in the PBA Philippine Cup.
NorthPort flipped the script on Converge and ran away with a come-from-behind 112-104 win in overtime in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Sunday, March 3.
The Batang Pier held the FiberXers to 24 points while dropping 47 of their own in the last 17 minutes to complete their comeback from 17 points down in the payoff period.
NorthPort thus evened its card to 1-1 after scoring a reversal of its overtime loss to NLEX two days ago. Converge, meanwhile, dropped its second game in a row after also losing to Terrafirma in its opening assignment.
The Batang Pier gave the FiberXers a dose of their own medicine, employing a full-court press to wipe out what was once an 84-67 fourth quarter deficit with a 14-0 run highlighted by a Fran Yu triple with 7:03 remaining in regulation.
Eventually, NorthPort broke free from a 91-all deadlock and gained the upperhand after Cade Flores' easy basket off a pick-and-roll play with Arvin Tolentino.
Tolentino would score three more points after that, but Alec Stockton's quick three with 10.9 ticks in the fourth period sent the game into overtime.
NorthPort's defense, though, continued to hound the FiberXers as they were held scoreless in the first 2:23 of the extension.
Wil Navarro asserted his might in the extra period, dropping six of his 16 points, including the breakaway flush with still 2:56 to go that gave the Batang Pier a 102-96 lead. NorthPort was never in danger of losing that edge since then.
Tolentino nearly had a triple double in his stellar outing for Batang Pier as he piled 31 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. He also had two steals.
Joshua Munzon contributed on both ends of the floor, coming up with career-best six steals on top of 17 points, six rebounds, and two blocks to backstop Tolentino. Cade Flores chipped in 14 points and the same number of boards to go with three steals.
"We started to play defense (noong fourth quarter), 'yung backcourt pressure. 'Yung defense nag panalo sa'min," said NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan.
Alec Stockton paced Converge with 27 points, three rebounds and two steals, while Justine Arana put up a 25-point, 13-rebound outing that went for naught.