By MARK REY MONTEJO
Arvin Tolentino and JM Calma showed the way as NorthPort rolled past TNT, 112-96, for its fourth consecutive win in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, April 5.
Tolentino, who tallied 22 just in the first half, and young gun Calma spearheaded the Batang Pier’s assault to seize an insurmountable 66-34 lead which was enough to weather RR Pogoy’s last-ditch effort in the waning minutes for the Tropang Giga.
The 28-year-old Tolentino finished with 29 points and collected eight rebounds and dished out five assists while Calma backstopped him with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds as NorthPort joined NLEX as the hottest teams in the league with 4-1 records while also dealing the struggling TNT its third loss in five outings.
Pogoy anchored TNT’s offensive rally in the second half by scoring 34 points built on a 7-of-12 shooting beyond the arc while Calvin Oftana posted 13 on top of nine rebounds and four assists. Kim Aurin chipped in 18 in a losing cause.
The Batang Pier dictated the tempo from the first frame, outdoing the Tropang Giga in both ends and seizing a 43-27 cushion midway of the second canto.
Still, NorthPort broke free in the third period with Tolentino drilling a booming triple in the opening minutes that gave them their highest lead in the game, 66-34.
Though momentum was on NorthPort’s side, Pogoy alongside Aurin and Oftana tried to steer the Tropang Giga in the fourth frame where they cut the deficit to just 15, 88-103, with under three minutes left.
But their gallant showing couldn’t help them overcome Batang Pier’s advantage.
