HARD-EARNED WIN
Batang Pier get past Fuel Masters
Games today: (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. — TNT vs Terrafirma 6:15 p.m. — NLEX vs Converge
No more extra minutes this time. NorthPort dodged the bullet after repelling a pesky Phoenix side for a 124–120 victory to snap a string of extended games in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But the Batang Pier stared at another potential overtime when they allowed the debuting Fuel Masters to ignite a scorching 18-4 run that turned their 13-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter to a 110-111 deficit with 3:40 left.
In a game where heroes abound for the Batang Pier — seven scoring in double-figures — it was the duo of Arvin Tolentino and Fran You who stood out to secure their second win in a row in three starts.
Yu completed a crucial three-point play after Phoenix took the lead before following it up with two free throws and a huge assist to trailing Zav Lucero for the fastbreak layup that pushed NorthPort’s lead to 117-113 with 2:46 left.
Tolentino, on the other hand, fired four points in a row that kept the Batang Pier at a safe distance in the closing minutes of the game to seal the win.
“What I’ve said to my players, it’s not about how we start the game but how we finish it,” NorthPort head coach Bonnie Tan said in relief after finishing the game in regulation time after back-to-back overtime games.
The Batang Pier’s bench mob got the job done, dumping 88 points led by rookie Cade Flores’ career-best 21 points off a near-perfect 8-of-9 field goal shooting he laced with 12 rebounds and two assists before fouling out.
Lucero added 18 points and veteran sniper Jeff Chan had a crisp 3-of-4 outside shooting to finish with 17 markers off the bench for NorthPort, which had 23 fastbreak points.
“Again, our second unit is very crucial for a very young NorthPort team. We’re still looking for our identity and we’re really happy that Zavier delivered off the bench,” Tan said.
Joshua Munzon also had 17 points, Tolentino got 15 points and nine boards while Yu and Paul Zamar had 13 and 11 points, respectively, for the Batang Pier.
Down, 93-106, in the last 7:08, the Fuel Masters mounted a comeback with Ricci Rivero splitting his charities to give them a 111-110 lead.
Jason Perkins finished with 28 points and seven rebounds to lead the Fuel Masters. Tyler Tio had 19, RJ Jazul added 15 while Rivero and Ken Tuffin chipped in 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
NorthPort brushed off 0-7 start to take a 10-point lead after the first 12 minutes. The squad sustained its relentless attack in the second quarter to extend its cushion.
Flores pushed the Batang Pier’s advantage to 14 after drilling a fadeaway jumper, 61-47, with 2:04 left in the second quarter.