The rookies proved themselves worthy as they helped NorthPort get past TNT in overtime, 128-123, to lay their two-game losing skid to rest in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
The rooks proved themselves worthy as they helped NorthPort get past TNT in overtime, 128-123, to lay their two-game losing skid to rest in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Friday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Fran Yu baited Calvin Oftana to a foul and then split his freebies to give the Batang Pier a 126-123 lead with 19.3 seconds left, and Arvin Tolentino, shortly after the guard’s trip. sealed the deal by perfecting his shots from the line.
Yu and Tolentino were also responsible for the team’s 7-0 start into the extra period together with bruiser Cade Flores, giving themselves the 120-113 lead with 3:43 remaining that put themselves ahead the rest of the way.
Tolentino finished with 27 points and nine rebounds to lead the way. Flores supplied 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Yu produced 14 points and six dimes in the victory that hiked their win-loss record to 3-2.
“Kasi ‘yung TNT, this is the best time to win against them kasi medyo kulang-kulang ‘yung notation,” said head coach Bonnie Tan postgame.
“To win against TNT, we have to outrun and outplay them. Kaya mga rookies talaga,” he added. “Alam naman natin mas fit kayo diyan, mas mabilis kayo. ‘Yun na lang yung challenge namin, we have to outplay them.”
Joshua Munzon was impactful as well for NorthPort with 16 points, spiked by four triples. Rookie Brent Paraiso and JM Calma added 10 each.
The Batang Pier will try to build another winning streak against the struggling Converge on December 6, Wednesday, 4 p.m. still at Philsports.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, meanwhile, had 35 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists to lead TNT, who suffered its second loss in a row.
The naturalized Jordanian spearheaded the comeback, unloading 17 points in the middle quarters that saw the Tropang Giga erase a 15-point second-period deficit and establish an 82-70 lead during the third.
RHJ actually had a chance to break the 111-all tie late in the fourth but missed his free throws. He also missed a jumper then lost the ball with under three seconds left, and the game went into OT as Yu missed a trey as time expired.
Hollis-Jefferson did get his side to within a field goal, 125-123, after a triple from the left wing with 37.5 seconds left to play, but Yu and Tolentino would make sure that the Tropa won’t be able to pull the rug underneath the Batang Pier.
Calvin Oftana and Glenn Khobuntin had 22 points apiece, while Jayson Castro added 20 as four players scored at least in the defeat.
Now at 2-3 in the standings, TNT will try to arrest its skid against NLEX on December 13, Wednesday, 8 p.m. still at Philsports.
The Scores:
NorthPort 128 – Tolentino 27, Jois 21, Munzon 16, Flores 16, Yu 14, Calma 10, Paraiso 10, Caperal 5, Amores 5, Chan 4.
TNT 123 – Hollis-Jefferson 35, Oftana 22, Khobuntin 22, Castro 20, K.Williams 10, Ponferrada 4, Aurin 3, Montalbo 3, Heruela 2, Galinato 2, Reyes 0.
Quarterscores: 37-33, 61-62, 90-89, 113-113, 128-123.
