NORTHPORT is playing like a tight-knit squad–one of the likely reasons behind its fast start in the season-ending tilt.
Batang Pier wingman Joshua Munzon was knocked down late in the fourth quarter by Meralco Bolts counterpart Allein Maliksi but there was no foul called.
Seeing blood, NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino drove baseline, spun off Meralco big man Raymar Jose, and rose for a short stab, as if saying the basket was for his teammate last night.
Showing they wanted it more, the Batang Pier held off the Bolts 90-85 for their third straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco refused to lie down and die and threatened at 85-88 on a Chris Newsome three-point opportunity with 8.2 seconds to go.
Newsome intentionally missed his bonus free throw, hoping they would grab the offensive rebound, but NorthPort rookie Zavier Lucero outworked the Bolts for the board and found a streaking Cade Flores for an uncontested layup that pegged the final count.
Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan was elated no end on how his charges got their bearings back after nearly squandering a 12-point first half edge.
“Playing against Meralco, we knew they would come back from a double-digit deficit. Ang ni-request ko lang sa team ay magkaroon ng composure sa endgame, sa winning time,” Tan said. “Walang kuwenta iyong first half although we did well. We were just playing tightly at the end of the first half but in the second half we made sure we’d have a good start.
“Iyong composure sa endgame na kailangan naming magawa to get the win against Meralco, nagawa nila,” he added.
Tan drew 16 points, six rebounds, and five assists from Tolentino, while JM Calma provided ample help with 16 markers and eight boards as NorthPort sustained its gains from a 124-120 decision over Phoenix three days ago and rose to 3-1.
Paul Zamar and Flores also added 14 and 13 points, respectively, for the Batang Pier, who handed Meralco its second loss in a row for a 1-3 slate.
NorthPort led by as much as 39-27 on a Tolentino three-pointer at the 6:22 mark of the second quarter before the Bolts charged back and knotted the game at 43 at the half.
The Batang Pier grabbed the upperhand 68-64 heading into the fourth canto.
Aaron Black paced Meralco with 18 points, four caroms, and four dimes, while Newsome had 15 and six.
Raymond Almazan also got 12 markers for Meralco.