As undoubtedly the face of the NorthPort franchise, Arvin Tolentino can take pleasure within the Batang Pier’s continued rise within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup following a large midweek win over Barangay Ginebra.
“Very completely satisfied due to having fun with that profitable feeling once more, being No. 1 [in the team standings],” Tolentino mentioned after the Batang Pier’s 119-116 escape act on Wednesday evening at Philsports Area in Pasig Metropolis.
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NorthPort improved to a league-best 7-1 file after the character-building consequence that every one however assured the staff’s spot within the quarterfinals, one thing it has not reached within the final two conferences.
Led by Tolentino, import Kadeem Jack, Joshua Munzon plus William Navarro and Cade Flores, the Batang Pier constructed an 18-point fourth-quarter lead then confirmed true character regardless of squandering the large hole whereas benefiting from a pair of miscues late by Justin Brownlee to supply a victory not seen in 5 years.
It was NorthPort’s first win over Ginebra since Dec. 14, 2019, in Recreation 1 of the Governors’ Cup semifinals. The Gin Kings gained the subsequent 14 showdowns with the Batang Pier.
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“It’s an announcement win for us,” declared Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan. “The query coming into this sport is whether or not we may win in opposition to the massive groups.
“However we hope that with this win, we’ve proved that we’re right here to win video games. And we’re right here to be aggressive, and never simply be every other staff,” he added.
Clearly, there was pleasure contained in the NorthPort locker room, however with 4 video games left within the Batang Pier’s elimination-round schedule, issues could get harder the remainder of the way in which.
Up subsequent for NorthPort are Meralco (4-3) on Tuesday, second-running Rain or Shine (5-1) on Thursday and unusually struggling San Miguel Beer (3-4) on Jan. 21. The classification schedule for NorthPort concludes on Jan. 25 in opposition to lowly Blackwater.
Friday video games
“It feels nice … for now,” Tolentino mentioned. “In fact, there’s nonetheless a protracted method to go. And like I at all times say, we rejoice till midnight, nevertheless it’s again to work the subsequent day and we look ahead to the subsequent sport.”
The Batang Pier’s victory got here amid the eye surrounding staff governor Erick Arejola’s involvement in a brawl that includes gamers and fogeys of each La Salle Zobel and Arandia Faculty within the NBTC qualifier the earlier weekend in Las Pinas Metropolis.
Arejola was mum about his half within the incident, which turned viral after movies surfaced on social media.
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Ginebra dropped to 5-3 regardless of taking a one-point lead within the fourth, with Brownlee uncharacteristically lacking the second of three free throws and slipping on the baseline, with an opportunity to tie the sport on each events.
Motion continues on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium with Magnolia trying to get its acts again along with a 2-5 slate in opposition to winless Terrafirma at 5 p.m. earlier than Meralco performs NLEX at 7:30 p.m.