NorthPort turned the tables on erstwhile unbeaten Meralco in the second half to pull off a 109-98 win and end a 0-5 start in the PBA Governors’ Cup Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier had plenty of heroes led by import Jamel Artis, returning Robert Bolick and Arwind Santos as they overcame a 19-point deficit in the first quarter to deal the Bolts their first defeat in the season-ending conference.
Artis posted 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three steals while Bolick put up 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in his first game since signing a new contract to remain with the NorthPort franchise.
Santos had 16 points and 10 rebounds to produce his first win as a member of the Batang Pier.
Jamie Malonzo, Jerrick Balanza, Troy Rike and Roi Sumang were also instrumental for NorthPort, which hasn’t won since a 122-94 defeat of Alaska in the Philippine Cup last Sept. 23.
“Siguro law of averages din. Hindi naman pwedeng puro tayo talo, kaya kahit papaano, gumanda laro natin,” said coach Pido Jarencio, whose team dealt with both heartbreaking and lopsided defeats this conference.
Meralco fell to 4-1 despite 34 points and 16 rebounds from import Tony Bishop and 23 points from Chris Banchero.
The Bolts went on a 19-3 start before taking a 30-11 lead before the end of the first quarter. They kept afloat even after the Batang Pier trimmed the gap and held a 54-48 lead early in the third when things went downhill.
Artis, Santos, Malonzo and Bolick conspired as NorthPort outscored Meralco, 20-3, for its first double-digit advantage at 68-57 in the third.
The scores:
NORTHPORT 109 — Artis 26, Bolick 22, Santos 16, Malonzo 14, Balanza 12, Rike 10, Sumang 9, Taha 0, Ferrer 0.
MERALCO 98 — Bishop 34, Banchero 23, Maliksi 14, Newsome 7, Pasaol 6, Hodge 4, Quinto 3, Almazan 3, Hugnatan 2, Belo 0.
Quarters: 18-32, 47-50, 81-64, 109-98.