Arvin Tolentino was on fire as Northport secured back-to-back victories, dominating Phoenix Super LPG with a 105-86 blowout win in the 2023 PBA On Tour on Friday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Tolentino exploded for 41 points, hitting 7 out of 11 shots from beyond the arc, surpassing his previous high of 28, which he achieved in their last game against Terrafirma on Sunday.
“Buenas eh tinira ko lang, na-shoot. Credits din sa mga teammates ko kasi na-execute namin nang maayos ‘yong mga play… maganda ‘yong nilaro namin as a team. Na-sakto lang siguro na ako ‘yong pinakamaganda,” Tolentino said.
The FEU product scored 27 of the Batang Pier’s 52 points in the second half.
“He wants to prove something, ‘yong challenge na sinabi ko sa kanya, maging consistent lang so at least nalampasan pa niya yata ‘yong average niya ngayon,” said Northport head coach Bonnie Tan during the postgame interview on his challenge to Tolentino as one of the team’s leaders.
“We need a leader and he wants to take that slot as a leader so sabi ko, ‘You have to perform every game consistently,'” he added.
The Batang Pier’s lead ballooned to 25 in the early minutes of the fourth quarter, making the Super LPG wave the white flag as early as the five-minute mark of the deciding quarter, where their key players had already subbed out.
JM Calma also delivered for Northport, tallying 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. He also committed a Flagrant 1 foul coming off a rebound play against Raul Soyud in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, Paul Zamar also added 14 points to lift the Northport victory.
The Batang Pier now improve to a 5-4 win-loss record in the preseason standings.
Northport will look to continue its streak when It takes on Rain or Shine on Wednesday still at Ynares Pasig.
Larry Muyang posted a double-double on the other end with 13 points and 12 rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome the massive lead of the Batang Pier.
Soyud, who committed five fouls, led the scoring for the Fuel Masters with 16 points, along with six rebounds and two steals, while Chirs Lalata and RJ Jazul chipped in 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Phoenix endured 27 turnovers, more than double Northport’s 13.
They also shot 3-out-of-24 from the three-point area (12%), while the Batang Pier shot 11-out-of-34 (32%).
Next, the Fuel Masters will aim to bounce back against winless TNT on July 19, Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m., at the same venue in Pasig. (Jose Gabriel Ignacio)
The Scores:
Northport 105 – Tolentino 41, Calma 21, Zamar 14, Yu 8, Santos 4, Munzon 4, Ayaay 3, Balagasay 2, Salado 2, Bauzon 2, Gabriel 2, Comboy 2, Olivario 0, Bulawan 0
Phoenix Super LPG 86 – Soyud 16, Lalata 14, Muyang 11, Jazul 11, Mocon 9, Tio 8, Camacho 6, Celda 5, Manganti 2, Alejandro 0, Garcia 0, Fetalvero 0, Atienza 0
Quarterscores: 21-21, 53-44, 82-65, 105-86
