Not a good start for the Batang Pier and new coach Bonnie Tan.
NorthPort sorely missed the services of Robert Bolick.
Without the team’s leading scorer, the Batang Pier absorbed a 122-92 beating at the hands of Converge in their PBA Governors’ Cup opener at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday.
Bolick was mired in the sidelines in street clothes as the FiberXers outscored the Batang Pier, 40-21, in the second quarter to set the tables up for the breakaway.
PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon said NorthPort’s 30-point loss was its 3rd all-time worst. Batang Pier’s worst was a 126-73 (49 points) drubbing from Star Hotshots in the 2015 Governors’ Cup, followed by a 132-91(41 points) loss to Phoenix three seasons later.
This also spoiled Bonnie Tan’s first game at the helm of Batang Pier, whose former head coach Pido Jarencio was appointed as team manager.
According to PBA courtside reporter Apple David, Bolick suffered a hamstring injury. While “playable,” the Batang Pier opted not to risk aggravating the injury.
Also recovering from knee injuries for NorthPort are veteran Arwind Santos and Will Navarro.
Import Marcus Weathers was the lone bright spot on offense for the Batang Pier as he fired 37 points to go with 12 rebounds. It was his first game as a professional after playing for three universities in college, the last one being Southern Methodist University.
Meanwhile, the FiberXers had a balanced attack with Maverick Ahanmisi leading the charge with 29 points, his second career-best, just behind his 30-point explosion in Game 4 of the Commissioner’s Cup against Alaska when he was still a rookie.
The 30-point victory set a record as the highest for the young Converge franchise.