MANILA – NorthPort Batang Pier spoiled the 2019 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup debut of Philippine Cup champions San Miguel Beermen with a 121-88 victory last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Robert Bolick waxed hot with 25 points, Prince Ibeh had double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Garvo Lanete and Jonathan Grey had 16 markers each for the Batang Pier (4-1).
From a 25-all score after the first 12 minutes, the Batang Pier started to create distance from the Beermen in the second period behind inside hits from Ibeh for a 54-41 halftime lead.
The Batang Pier continued its torrid shooting in the third period on outside shots from Lanete, Gray and Bolick and inside hits from Ibeh and Moala Tautuaa for its largest lead at 38 points.
Charles Rhodes has double-double 27 points and 12 rebounds, June Mar Fajardo added 19 markers, while Arwind Santos and Von Pessumal had 11 markers each for the undermanned Beermen (0-1).
The five-time Philippine Cup champions Beermen were missing the services of injured Chris Ross and Terrence Romeo as well as Ilonggo Ronald Tubid and Kelly Nabong, who were slapped with three-game suspension by the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
Philippine Cup runner-up Magnolia Hotshots also did not had the start it wanted in the conference after suffering a 103-80 defeat at the hands of hot shooting Alaska Aces in the first game.
The Aces got things going early behind Jvee Casio, Robert Daniels and Chris Banchero for a 23-15 edge. The Hotshots rallied to within 24-27 but the Aces pulled away again at 50-38 on shots from Casio and Carl Bryan Cruz.
The Aces went on with its rally in the second half with outside hits from Daniels, Jeron Teng and Simon Enciso for its largest lead at 94-66 on back-to-back hits from Casio and Cruz.
Daniels led the way with 23 points, including 4-of-4 three-point shooting, while Casio and Teng added 17 and 14 markers, respectively, for the Aces (3-2). Ian Sangalang had 17 markers for the Hotshots (0-1)./PN
