By: REYNALD MAGALLON
Arvin Tolentino announced his return in style, steering NorthPort to a wire-to-wire 112-95 victory over Blackwater to notch its first back-to-back win in the PBA on Tour on Friday, June 9 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Batang Pier went off to a hot start building a sizeable margin that went to as high as 26 points before keeping the Bossing at bay the rest of the way to cruise to their second win after opening the tournament with two-straight losses.
Tolentino was in the middle of the NorthPort attack, immediately making his presence felt with 22 points and five rebounds in just 23 minutes of play while Joshua Munzon followed up his breakout game last time with 19 points.
Paul Zamar also steadily manned the point with 17 points while JM Calma added 16.
A strong opening quarter set the tone for the rout as the Batang Pier built a double-digit advantage, 25-12 behind a 14-5 spurt spearheaded by Tolentino and Arwind Santos.
NorthPort pounced on Blackwater’s lackluster offense and kept its firm grasp of the lead at the break, 51-37.
The Bossing’s execution somehow came alive in the third quarter, cutting the lead down to just eight at one point, 65-57, but the Batang Pier easily recovered behind timely hits from Calma and Munzon.
NorthPort then delivered the killing blow, unloading a telling 13-1 run bridging third and fourth quarters to establish the biggest spread of the contest, 96-70.
Meantime, Sean Anthony delivered an impressive triple-double performance as NLEX doused Phoenix’s fire with a 112-95 triumph to finally notch its first win.
The Scores:
First Game
NORTHPORT 112 – Tolentino 22, Munzon 19, Zamar 17, Calma 16, Taha 11, Ayaay 7, Salado 7, Bauzon 7, Santos 4, Bulawan 2, Balagasay 0, Comboy 0, Olivario 0, Sobrevega .
BLACKWATER 95 – Rosari 17, Ilagan 15, Hill 12, Amer 11, McCarthy 11, Suerte 7, Banal 6, Sena 5, Publico 4, Ayonayon 3, Taha 3, Escoto 1, Ular 0.
QUARTERS: 32-19, 51-37, 85-69, 112-95
Second Game
NLEX 112 – Adamos 27, Anthony 22, Fajardo 17, Trollano 14, Gabo 11, Galanza 8, Pascual 7, Doliguez 3, Alas.
PHOENIX 95 – Muyang 21, Alejandro 17, Manganti 16, Soyud 13, Lalata 7, Celda 7, Atienza 5, Jazul 5, Rangel 2, Tio 0.
QUARTERS: 28-24, 63-40, 97-62, 112-95
Anthony scattered 22 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists while Ben Adamos haunted his former team with a game-high 27 points as the Road Warriors dominated in the middle quarters to tear the game wide open en route to their first win after four games.
Adamos actually notched a double-double of his own, collecting 10 rebounds while also firing five triples against Phoenix which traded him away two weeks ago.
Dominic Fajardo also continued to prove worth with 17 points while Don Trollano and Hesed Gabo added 14 and 11, respectively, for the Road Warriors who played in front of their former star and now B.League import Kiefer Ravena.
