Everything simply clicked for Arvin Tolentino and NorthPort in its win over Converge in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Thursday, Aug. 29.
It was Arvin Tolentino’s turn to explode for NorthPort on Thursday night, Aug. 29.
Almost a week since William Navarro registered a career-high 31 points, Tolentino turned in a stellar outing as the Batang Pier dumped Converge, 135-109, in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
NorthPort thus logged a similar 2-1 record with TNT and Meralco for joint leadership in Group A, which also features Terrafirma and Magnolia.
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Tolentino exploded with a career-high 51 points including 22 in the first half where the Batang Pier set the tone for the one-sided affair and led by as many as 24 points, 57-33.
The last player from the franchise to score 50 points was Stanley Pringle on June 22, 2018 for then GlobalPort Batang Pier.
The 6-foot-5 winger would make his presence felt anew in the third period where he went on a personal 10-1 surge to add to the woes of the FiberXers, 94-67.
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His baseline jumper over Fleming with exactly two minutes left to play allowed him to breach the 50-point mark.
There was simply nothing that could save the FiberXers after that.
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It also did not help that Justin Arana sprained his right ankle with still eight minutes and three seconds.
“Total team effort for us. I scored 51 but give credit also to my teammates who gave their best today. They deserve it also,” said Tolentino.
He was on point.
Four other Batang Pier scored in double figures, with Joshua Munzon collecting 19 points and Jio Jalalon nailing three triples and a four-pointer for 13.
Damie Cuntapay and Navarro added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Scotty Hopson paced Converge with 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Alec Stockton had 19 points, while Arana and Schonny Winston chipped in 16 points each for the FiberXers, who dropped to 2-2.
The Scores:
NORTHPORT 135 – Tolentino 51, Munzon 19, Jalalon 13, Cuntapay 11, Navarro 10, Yu 6, Jois 6, Bulanadi 6, Nelle 5, Amores 4, Onwubere 2, Taha 2, Flores 0, Tratter 0
CONVERGE 109 – Hopson 24, Stockton 19, Arana 16, Winston 16, Santos 12, Racal 8, Delos Santos 6, Nieto 4, Maagdenberg 2, melecio 2, Cabagnot 0, Caralipio 0, Fleming 0, Ambohot 0, Andrade 0
Quarterscores: 38-24, 68-49, 100-77, 135-109