MANILA – Robert Bolick Jr. carried NorthPort Batang Pier back from the brink of defeat to score a 101-95 overtime win against Meralco Bolts in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Down 83-72 midway in the fourth quarter, Bolick carried the Batang Pier back in the game with 17 consecutive points, including two free throws to tie the score at 89-all and send the game into overtime.
Bolick continued his outburst in the extension period with a three-pointer and a layup followed by another inside conversion from Shej Roi Sumang to give the Batang Pier a 96-90.
Meralco cut the deficit to 93-96 after an outside connection by Kier John Quinto but Arwind Santos sealed the deal for NorthPort with a three-pointer and a layup to make it a 101-95 count.
Bolick ended the game with career-high 44 points to go with seven assists, six rebounds and a steal as the Batang Pier moved up to second place in the standings with 2-1 win-loss slate.
Santos chipped in 15 markers and seven rebounds, reinforcement Prince Ibeh had double-double 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Arvin Tolentino contributed 12 markers for the Batang Pier.
Johnny O’Bryant posted double-double 30 points and 22 rebounds but misfired with his shots down the stretch, while Raymond Almazan and Allein Maliksi had 17 and 11, respectively, for the Bolts (0-1).
In the first game, NLEX Road Warriors turned things around in the fourth quarter to defeat Blackwater Bossing, 105-102, to move up to joint first place in the standings with Bay Area Dragons at 2-0.
Down by as much as 14 points in the game and 79-91 midway in the fourth quarter, the Road Warriors turned to Celedonio Trollano, Earl Clark and Bacolodnon Justin Chua to tie the score at 97-all.
Kevin Alas surged NLEX ahead at 99-97 with a layup. It was followed by a conversion from Matt Nieto and free throws by Alas and Clark for a 104-97 edge with under a minute left.
Clark led the way with double-double 38 points and 25 rebounds, Trollano contributed 18 markers, while Alas and Nieto chipped in 16 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Road Warriors.
BOX SCORE:
NORTHPORT 101 – Bolick 44, Santos 15, Ibeh 12, Tolentino 12, Balanza 7, Caperal 3, Chan 3, Sumang 3, Salado 2, Taha 0, Calma 0, Ferrer 0.
MERALCO 95 – O’Bryant 30, Almazan 17, Maliksi 11, Quinto 9, Banchero 8, Black 6, Caram 5, Pasaol 5, Newsome 2, Hodge 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 26-17, 35-44, 61-71, 89-89, 101-95./PN
