Arvin Tolentino and the rest of NorthPort had a rousing start in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
The ball found its way into the hands of NorthPort's Sidney Onwubere, who unabashedly launched a four-pointer in the face of hulking NLEX import Mike Watkins.
The shot went in, nothing but the net.
It was that kind of night for the Batang Pier who dealt the Road Warriors a 114-87 drubbing in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday, Nov. 28.
Save for a sloppy opening period, everything worked for North Port which shifted into high gear beginning in the second period on the way to the one-sided victory at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate.
Scoreless in the first quarter, Arvin Tolentino wound up with 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field.
Arvin Tolentino topscores for NorthPort with 29. | Photo (c) PBA
He also had two assists for the Batang Pier, who used a 35-12 second period assault to set the tables up for the breakaway.
As impressive as he was, Tolentino said they only rode the performance of the second unit on both ends of the floor.
“We started out flat. Medyo kinalawang kami. But 'yung second unit namin ang nagdala especially paglabas namin. Na-carry namin ang momentum noong nilaro nila,” said Tolentino.
Allyn Bulanadi (14 points), William Navarro (7), Agem Miranda (5) and Onwubere (4) came through off the bench.
Import Kadeem Jack made a good impression with his 25 points, six rebounds and three assists.
“Bottom line doon is 'yung team effort pa rin. Because of defense, nasunod 'yung game plan. Sumunod 'yung mga players. That’s why nakabalik kami on the later part ng first part,” said Batang Pier assistant coach Rensy Bajar.
Meanwhile, Atkins paced NLEX with 29 points and 19 rebounds in a losing effort. He also had four assists, a steal and two blocks.
Richie Rodger scored 11 points, while Javee Mocon and Anthony Semerad added 10 points each for the Road Warriors, who zoomed to a 25-9 start in the opening period but could not sustain that in the succeeding quarters.
The Scores:
NORTHPORT 114 – Tolentino 29, Jack 25, Bulanadi 14, Munzon 12, Yu 8, Navarro 7, Miranda 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 4, Taha 2, Flores 2, Tratter 2, Nelle 0
NLEX 87 – Watkins 29, Rodger 11, Mocon 10, Semerad 10, Amer 6, Torres 6, Bolick 3, Nieto 3, Nermal 3, Policarpio 2, Valdez 2, Herndon 2, Marcelo 0, Fajardo 0
Quarterscores: 21-29, 56-41, 91-67, 114-87