Tolentino tallies triple-double as Batang Pier rout Bossing

MANILA, Philippines -- Arvin Tolentino posted a triple-double to power the NorthPort Batang Pier to a triumphant finish in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup eliminations, at the expense of the All-Filipino Blackwater Bossing, 120-93, Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Tolentino finished with 14 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds and three steals in 31 minutes to spearhead the demolition of the also-ran Bossing squad.

The Batang Pier thus ended their elimination round bid with a 9-3 win-loss record, which currently gives them the top seed in the conference and a strong chance of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage.

Kadeem Jack top-scored for the Batang Pier with 30 points and six rebounds, while Joshua Munzon had 21 markers and five dimes.

After leading by just four points, 30-26, at the end of the first, NorthPort outscored Blackwater 60 to 37 in the middle quarters to break the game wide open.

The Bossing trailed by seven, 34-41, in the second quarter after a triple by Jewel Ponferada.

But a 16-3 run by NorthPort, capped by a layup by Evan Nelle, gave the winning team a 20 point advantage, 57-37.

They rode the momentum as they saw their lead balloon to as much as 36 points, 109-73, following Tolentino’s 10th rebound and 11th assist that led to a touchdown finish by Paolo Taha with 7:10 remaining.

The 27-point spread at the end of the game was the closest Blackwater got to since that point.

Allyn Bulanadi and Taha had 12 points apiece for NorthPort. Nelle and William Navarro had seven each points.

Justin Chua paced Blackwater with 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists. RK Ilagan added 11 points for the Bossing, who missed the services of import George King for the second straight game.

Blackwater ended its campaign in the import-laden conference with a 3-9 slate.