Batang Pier repulse bossing  

MANILA, Philippines — Arvin Tolentino and Arwind Santos played clutch to lift slow-starting NorthPort past Blackwater, 87-83, for solo fifth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tolentino fired 10 points in the stretch while Santos delivered crucial jumpers, defensive rebounds and assists as the Batang Pier ultimately wrested control after trailing most of the way using a 23-15 closeout.

A trade acquisition from Ginebra, Tolentino tallied 15 to backstop import Prince Ibeh’s 19-point, 10-rebound, two-steal, two-block statline in the bounceback victory to their 117-93 setback to TNT last time.

In his best outing this conference, Santos shot 14 to go with 10 boards, two dimes and two steals while Jerrick Balanza made 13 to ease the burden on Robert Bolick (12).

Fresh from their morale-boosting 109-106 upset of San Miguel Beer, the Bossing opened the game with eight unanswered points and made the Batang Pier play catch-up most of the way.

“Ang sama ng first half namin, defensively ang sama tapos yung opensa, one pass, one shot ang ginawa namin. So kinausap ko sila. Hindi pwedeng manalo nang ganun,” NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio said.

Jarencio’s angry halftime talk woke up his troops.

After restart, the Batang Pier outscored the Bossing, 50-41, while winning the battle in rebounding, 26-20, assists, 15-9, steals, 5-3, and blocks, 3-0.

“A win is a win, I’ll take this kahit ganito. Marami pa lang kami talagang dapat i-improve. Malayong malayo pa,” said Jarencio.

Blackwater was still up, 79-75, before Tolentino and Santos ignited the decisive blast that put NorthPort in front, 85-81.

Cameron Krutwig pulled the Bossing within two with two seconds to go. Outwitting a Blackwater team intending to foul and stop the clock, Santos hurled a pinpoint outlet pass to Balanza at the frontcourt for an unmolested layup at the buzzer.

“Kinausap ko talaga si Arwind kasi bumaba yung shooting percentage niya at yung open shots niya hindi pumapasok lately. Dapat i-check nya yun,” said Jarencio.

“Last conference, siya ang pinaka-consistent na player namin. Ngayong may import, sabi ko imagine mo na lang na si Ibeh si June Mar (Fajardo) ang ka-partner mo. Nag-step-up siya. Kailangan namin siya bilang isa sa leaders dito,” he added.

Later, pacesetting Magnolia roared to a wire-to-wire 111-97 victory over NLEX to go 4-0 in a game where coach Chito Victolero, fresh from an Achilles operation, reported for duty on a scooter.

Nick Rakocevic, back in action after an abbreviated stint last game due to an injury, dropped 36-15 while Jio Jalalon and Marc Barroca combined for 34 as the Hotshots kept their spotless card.

Justin Chua and Kevin Alas netted 16 apiece and import Earl Clark managed only 15 as the Road Warriors lost back-to-back after a 2-0 start.

Krutwig showed the way with 28-17 for Blackwater (2-3), which fell out of the Magic 8 at ninth.

Jarencio attributed NorthPort’s inconsistencies to the still-developing chemistry between the regulars and former Ginebra boys Tolentino, Jeff Chan, Prince Caperal and Kent Salado, who came on board only last Sept. 20.

“Lumalabas yung dahil bagong dating pa rin sila Arvin, parang nagkakapaan ulit. Meron kang isang magandang game, hindi naman ma-sustain. Kasi nga hindi mo talagang kilala nang lubos yung kasama mo,” he noted.

“Siguro darating yung panahon na magiging solid tayo defensively, offensively.”