AFTER the final buzzer sounded in their clash with Terrafirma, NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino raced to the stands to fetch eldest child Olivia, who went with him up to the press room of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last night.
Whether Tolentino’s daughter, who will turn three years old next week, proved to be the lucky charm or not does not matter.
What mattered was that the Batang Pier dismantled the winless Dyip 133-107 for a big bounce back win in Group A of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
Still working hard although the win was already in the bag, Tolentino soared for a defensive rebound off a missed three-pointer by Terrafirma playmaker Tommy Olivario with 2:40 to go that enabled him to scatter a triple double of 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
Batang Pier deputy Rensy Bajar, who spoke in lieu of coach Bonnie Tan, said all they asked their charges was to show their resolve after a mini two-game skid.
“After we lost to Meralco and Magnolia, nag-usap ang coaching staff on how we will handle those two losses,” Bajar said. “Ang hiningi lang naman namin for today’s game was No. 1 iyong energy ng players kailangan from the start ipakita namin iyong willingness namin to defend.
“Terrafirma is a dangerous team with a good coaching staff. Iyon lang, ma-depensahan namin sila ng maayos and control the boards which was nangyari ngayon and iyong assist department, na-kontrol din namin,” he added.
NorthPort import Venky Vois returned from an ankle injury in a 94-105 loss to the Magnolia Wednesday last week with a game-high 26 markers, to go with 15 boards and three dimes, while William Navarro chipped in 18 and six.
Navarro sat out the Batang Pier’s last tiff due to ankle woes. Cade Flores and Jio Jalalon added 15 and 12 points, respectively, for NorthPort which improved to 3-3.
The Dyip, coming off an 89-107 shellacking at the hands of the defending champions TNT Tropang Giga five nights back, remained winless with a 0-6 slate.
NorthPort zoomed to a 62-41 edge at the break and stretched it to as much as 69-41 on a Tolentino trey at the 10:23 mark of the third canto.
The Batang Pier held a comfortable 96-75 spread entering the final quarter and hardly met resistance from there.
Christian Standhardinger, who left the match late due to an apparent knee injury, carried the fight for Terrafirma with 22 points and 10 caroms while rookie Didat Hanapi got 20 markers.
Louie Sangalang, Kevin Ferrer, reinforcement Antonio Hester, and Stanley Pringle also contributed 14, 14, 12, and 10 points, respectively.
Still seeking a maiden triumph, the Dyip should learn from NorthPort on how to lick wounds fast and recover.
