NORTHPORT handily beat hapless Blackwater 116-103 yesterday for its fourth straight win and moved closer to the PBA Governors Cup playoffs at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Just days removed from his recent Gilas Pilipinas stint that caused him to miss two games, Robert Bolick made a strong impact on his return with a team-high 30 points on top of 11 rebounds and six assists.
Jamel Artis had 26 points and nine rebounds and Arwind Santos had a double-double of 21 markers and 13 boards as the Batang Pier improved their record to 4-5 in a tied with recent victim Phoenix Super LPG at eighth.
More victories in its remaining games against Terrafirma on Saturday and TNT on March 11 will give NorthPort a clearer shot at making it through to the eight-team quarterfinals.
Coach Pido Jarencio heaped most of the credit to the hard work put in by all of his charges.
“Total team effort,” he said. “Everybody stepped up, especially the first group. Everybody wants to win. From 0-5, we worked hard for these four straight wins. Ibig sabihin, everybody’s doing his share. Of course, may mga exceptional players. Robert coming back, Artis steady, Arwind consistent.”
All but one of the nine players Jarencio fielded in contributed, with fellow starters Jamie Malonzo adding 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks and Jerick Balanza chipping in 10 points, four boards and three dimes.
The onslaught, which started as early as late in the opening quarter and reached its peak when Artis’ mid-range jumper made it a 95-75 count, was simply too much for Blackwater, which absorbed its ninth loss in as many games and ran up its losing streak since last year to 28.
Shawn Glover had a game-high 47 points to go with 12 rebounds but once again got little support from the other Blackwater players.
Paul Desiderio and Rashawn McCarthy tried and were mainly instrumental in bringing the Bossing back to within 91-99, still 6:57 left in the game.
The threat was quickly quelled, however, when Santos strung up five straight points that sparked a 12-4 exchange and jacked NorthPort’s lead back to a safer 111-95.
Desiderio scored nine points in the fourth period to finish with 17 while Casio wound up with 13 points and eight assists while McCarthy scored 11 points as Blackwater now shifts its sights on ending its slump either against TNT on Friday or Magnolia next Wednesday.
