MANILA – NorthPort Batang Pier kept their flickering hopes alive with a 108-103 win over Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 4 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Arvin Tolentino had a near triple-double showing of 20 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds to go with four steals to be named Player of the Game as the Batang Pier trimmed the series deficit to 1-3.
“Well, I just really had to do this (my near triple-double performance) kasi kung hindi wala na, out na kami. So, kumbaga, as a team, we found a way to win in this game,” Tolentino said after the game.
Kadeem Jack led the way for the Batang Pier with a double-double of 39 points and 15 rebounds, William Navarro tallied 16 markers, while Joshua Munzon and Ilonggo Juan Paolo Taha contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively.
With the Batang Pier holding to a comfortable 104-93 lead with over four minutes left, the Gin Kings countered with a 10-0 scoring run behind Stephen Holt, Jeth Troy Rosario, Rhon Jay Abarrientos, and Jamie Malonzo to cut the deficit to 103-104.
The Batang Pier increased the lead to 106-103 on a fall away shot from Jack and, after a missed attempt from the Gin Kings, Tolentino sealed the win for NorthPort with two free throws with five seconds left.
“Siguro ‘yung nag iba in this game is ‘yung energy and aggressiveness namin sa depensa. Wala kaming masabi dun sa pinakita ng players, especially dun sa pressure defense sa Ginebra,” Batang Pier assistant coach Rensy Bajar said after the game.
“Nasunod namin ‘yung gusto naming gawin and nasunod din ng players ‘yung game plan namin, ‘yun ang pinaka importante on how they play as a team, especially on defense,” he added.
Abarrientos and Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 18 points apiece, Rosario had a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Holt, Malonzo, Earl Scottie Thompson, and Japeth Aguilar tallied 15, 12, 11, and 10 points, respectively./PN
BOX SCORE:
NORTHPORT 108 – Jack 39, Tolentino 20, Navarro 16, Munzon 14, Taha 11, Nelle 3, Bulanadi 3, Miranda 2, Onwubere 0.
GINEBRA 103 – Brownlee 18, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Holt 15, Malonzo 12, Thompson 11, J. Aguilar 10, Ahanmisi 2, Cu 0, Gray 0.
Quarterscores: 21-22, 54-50, 84-74, 108-103.
