NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino.–PBA IMAGES
Arvin Tolentino and NorthPort are hoping that their 114-87 rout of NLEX within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup opener would function a superb signal of their quest to make a return journey to the playoffs.
“That’s the aim,” Tolentino mentioned after bucking a scoreless first quarter and a minor damage to supply 29 factors within the Batang Pier’s triumph on Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
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Tolentino’s particular person brilliance has not translated into a major variety of victories for NorthPort, which barely missed the highest eight of final season’s Philippine Cup and gained simply three of 10 within the group stage of this yr’s Governors’ Cup.
Now, NorthPort will look to be third-time fortunate, banking on Tolentino plus import Kadeem Jack, who posted 25 factors, six rebounds, three assists and two steals within the victory.
Jack was a last-minute signing after NorthPort initially tapped Kavell Bigby Williams.
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“I believe it’s very doable for us to make the quarterfinals,” Tolentino mentioned. “We got here up brief the previous two conferences, however hopefully we are able to make it this time.”
NorthPort gained after trailing by 16 within the first quarter, turning issues round within the second behind Tolentino and Jack plus different locals like Evan Nelle, who, regardless of being scoreless, had seven rebounds and eight assists.
However one other large issue was that the Batang Pier held their former franchise star Robert Bolick to simply three factors, tying a profession low.
Import Michael Griffin-Watkins’ 29 factors and 19 rebounds for the Street Warriors weren’t sufficient to keep away from a disappointing setback to open the midseason tourney.
Rushed to hospital
In the meantime, the nightcap pitting Magnolia and Blackwatrer at press time was marred by an damage wherein the Hotshots’ Calvin Abueva needed to be rushed to the hospital after a first-half collision with the Bossing’s Cedric Barefield.
Abueva suffered from neck spasms and fell to the ground for a couple of minutes earlier than medics took him out of the venue on a stretcher and a ready ambulance.
Magnolia opened the event with returning import Ricardo Ratliffe, the previous South Korea naturalized participant who has not been within the PBA since 2017.
Blackwater, in the meantime, introduced again George King for one more tour of responsibility, because the Bossing have began life with out Troy Rosario.
Rosario signed with Barangay Ginebra after his contract with Blackwater expired on the finish of the Governors’ Cup.
