By REYNALD MAGALLON
Robert Bolick and Roi Sumang took charge at crunch time as NorthPort completed its comeback from a huge 19-point down to come away with a 92-89 victory in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday, Sept. 21.
The Batang Pier went on an 11-2 run orchestrated by Sumang who either scored or made an assist on NorthPort’s last three baskets to produce the come-from-behind win.
Trailing by six, 87-81, in the final two minutes of the game, NorthPort’s new acquisition Arvin Tolentino triggered the run with a booming right wing triple before Sumang delivered a floater and another long bomb to put the Batang Pier on the driver’s seat, 89-87, with 40 seconds left.
Two Tyler Tio free throws tied the knot at 89-all but Sumang issued a perfect cross court pass that landed on Bolick who then drilled the dagger trey with 12 second left.
Bolick finished with 21 points and six assists while Sumang provided ample support with his 15 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Prince Ibeh announced his return with NorthPort with double-double effort of 19 points and 15 rebounds while Tolentino chipped in 16 points, seven assists, six boards and four blocks.
NorthPort actually had to buck some jitters in the opening frame where they found themselves trailing by 19, 26-7 as the Fuel Masters leaned on the explosive start from Javee Mocon and import Kaleb Wesson.
The Batang Pier, however, got their bearings going in the second quarter as Tolentino scored nine of NorthPort’s 25 points, equaling the output of the entire Phoenix team in that frame to tie the game at the half, 37-all
Phoenix looked good in its first game in the post-Matthew Wright era as young guns in Tio and Encho Serrano made solid contributions in the second half that allowed the Fuel Masters to take a double-digit spread early in the final frame. Phoenix, however, relaxed towards the waning minutes as it fell prey to the clutch duo of Sumang and Bolick in the end game.
Mocon led the way for Phoenix with 24 points while Wesson added 14 points and 15 rebounds which went for naught as the Fuel Masters committed a crucial turnover in the final possession that could have given them a chance to send the game to an extra period.
The scores:
NORTHPORT 92 – Bolick 21, Ibeh 19, Tolentino 16, Sumang 15, Santos 10, Balanza 6, Ferrer 3, Salado 2, Dela Cruz 0, Chan 0, Calma 0, Taha 0.
PHOENIX 89 – Mocon 24, Wesson 14, Serrano 10, Tio 10, Jazul 7, Camacho 7, Muyang 6, Lalata 4, Garcia 4, Rios 3, Lojera 0, Adamos 0, Robles 0.
Quarters: 12-28, 37-37, 61-65, 92-89.
