By REYNALD MAGALLON
William Navarro put up a career-high showing and steered NorthPort to a huge 112-93 win over Terrafirma and barge into the Group A win column of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Aug. 23
The 27-year-old forward just cannot miss in the second half, dropping 24 of his total 31 points as the Batang Pier unleashed a back-breaking 19-3 run, bridging the last two quarters to create the much-needed separation and bounce back from their sorry loss in the first game.
Up only by seven, 77-70, with a minute left in the third frame, Navarro scored 11 of NorthPort’s next 19 points – a blazing stretch that ended with the Batang Pier taking a commanding 98-73 lead early in the final frame.
NorthPort never looked back from there and left Terrafirma, seemingly still groping for its identity, winless through its first two games.
The usual offensive minded Arvin Tolentino was content facilitating and referring to his teammates to finish with a near triple-double showing of 10 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists laced with three steals and a block.
Returning import Venky Jois, meanwhile, proved that NorthPort made the right choice for bringing him back in lieu of Taylor Johns with 16 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.
NorthPort narrowly lost its first game, absorbing a 101-95 loss against TNT despite Johns contributing a near triple-double of 36 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists.
Juami Tiongson bounced back from his lackluster showing with 19 points although he was visibly still not on the same page with offseason acquisition Christian Standhardinger, who, after a solid debut, had a dismal 10-point showing this time around.
Stanley Pringle was the most consistent player for Dyip so far, following up his 19 points in the first game with another stellar showing of 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Kevin Ferrer added 13 while import Antonio Hester was completely outplayed by his counterpart with just 13 points and 11 rebounds to his name.
