Rookie Jamie Malonzo put on a dunking exhibition as NorthPort crushed Terrafirma, 104-84, for its first back-to-back win Saturday, Sept. 11 in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Malonzo, who finished with 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, scored the game’s first basket with a two-hand breakaway jam before converting three spectacular slams during the last four minutes of the second quarter that gave the Batang Pier a 55-38 halftime lead.
His final dunk came early in the third with a two-hander off Robert Bolick’s fastbreak alley-oop which made it 59-41 for NorthPort.
“We just went out there and have fun,” said Malonzo, whose aerial artistry came after the ejection of NorthPort big man Greg Slaughter.
Slaughter was tossed after a hard foul on a driving Roosevelt Adams with 8:19 left in the second quarter and the Batang Pier ahead 30-23.
The ejection seemed to have little effect on NorthPort which even built its lead to double figures the rest of the way with Malonzo leading the charge.
“With Greg Slaughter out, we knew that all of us have to step up. And that’s what we did and decided to end the half stronger and we got it done,” added the second pick in the PBA Rookie Draft last March.
NorthPort led by as many as 27 on its way to move in seventh spot with an even 3-3 record with team manager Bonnie Tan calling the shots in the absence of coach Pido Jarencio and his staff who are still under quarantine as part of the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
Bolick had 15 points, six rebounds and eight assists while Garvo Lanete topscored with 18 points for the Batang Pier.
The victory opened a hectic weekend for the Batang Pier, who’ll return to the floor the following day at 7 p.m. against the NLEX Road Warriors in the final match of a tripleheader.
Adams and Aldrech Ramos scored 14 points apiece but the Dyip fell to 3-6 with two consecutive defeats following a three-game winning streak.
The scores:
NORTHPORT 104 — Lanete 18, Bolick 15, Malonzo 14, Onwubere 10, Elorde 9, Taha 8, Rike 6, Faundo 6, Ferrer 5, Anthony 4, Subido 3, Slaughter 2, Balanza 2, Grey 2.
TERRAFIRMA 84 — Adams 14, Ramos 14, Batiller 11, Tiongson 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, McCarthy 8, Camson 7, Calvo 6, Gabayni 3, Laput 2, Celda 1.
Quarters: 22-12, 55-37, 84-62, 104-84.