Tolentino returns in style as NorthPort cruises past Blackwater
Published Jun 9, 2023 12:13 pm
Arvin Tolentino announced his return in style, steering NorthPort to a wire-to-wire 112-95 victory over Blackwater to notch its first back-to-back wins in the PBA on Tour on Friday, June 9, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Batang Pier went off to a hot start, building a sizeable margin that went to as high as 26 points before keeping the Bossing at bay the rest of the way to cruise to their second win after opening the tournament with two straight losses. Tolentino was in the middle of the NorthPort attack, immediately making his presence felt with 22 points and five rebounds in just 23 minutes of play while Joshua Munzon followed up his breakout game the last time with 19 points. Paul Zamar also steadily manned the point with 17 points while JM Calma added 16. A strong opening quarter set the tone for the rout as the Batang Pier built a double-digit advantage, 25-12, behind a 14-5 spurt spearheaded by Tolentino and Arwind Santos. NorthPort pounced on Blackwater’s lackluster offense and kept its firm grip of the lead at the break, 51-37. The Bossing’s execution somehow came alive in the third quarter, cutting the lead down to just eight at one point, 65-57, but the Batang Pier easily recovered behind timely hits from Calma and Munzon. NorthPort then delivered the killing blow, unloading a telling 13-1 run bridging third and fourth quarters to establish the biggest spread of the contest, 96-70. Troy Rosario continued his resurgence with 17 points and six rebounds to lead Blackwater while RK ilagan chipped in 15 points – all of which went down the drain as the Bossing fell to a 2-2 record standings.
*Arvin Tolentino attacks Blackwater's defense. (PBA Images)
*The Batang Pier went off to a hot start, building a sizeable margin that went to as high as 26 points before keeping the Bossing at bay the rest of the way to cruise to their second win after opening the tournament with two straight losses. Tolentino was in the middle of the NorthPort attack, immediately making his presence felt with 22 points and five rebounds in just 23 minutes of play while Joshua Munzon followed up his breakout game the last time with 19 points. Paul Zamar also steadily manned the point with 17 points while JM Calma added 16. A strong opening quarter set the tone for the rout as the Batang Pier built a double-digit advantage, 25-12, behind a 14-5 spurt spearheaded by Tolentino and Arwind Santos. NorthPort pounced on Blackwater’s lackluster offense and kept its firm grip of the lead at the break, 51-37. The Bossing’s execution somehow came alive in the third quarter, cutting the lead down to just eight at one point, 65-57, but the Batang Pier easily recovered behind timely hits from Calma and Munzon. NorthPort then delivered the killing blow, unloading a telling 13-1 run bridging third and fourth quarters to establish the biggest spread of the contest, 96-70. Troy Rosario continued his resurgence with 17 points and six rebounds to lead Blackwater while RK ilagan chipped in 15 points – all of which went down the drain as the Bossing fell to a 2-2 record standings.