WITH import Venky Jois sidelined by a hamstring injury, NorthPort pulled off a big feat with a 115-101 upset of San Miguel Beer in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig Friday.
Minus Jois, the Batang Pier found joy with the gallant effort of the locals that sustained the team's hot run and jacked up their record to 5-2.
Asiad veteran Arvin Tolentino stepped up on the plate and led the charge en route to an upset of the San Miguel side stymied by the absence of injury-hit main man June Mar Fajardo.
The Beermen dropped to 3-2.
The Batang Pier put up a tough, tough stand minus their import and defied the odds, nailing a third straight win after a 1-2 season start.
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Tolentino showed the way for coach Boni Tan's chargers, coming through with 28 points on top of five rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block against five turnovers.
But it's not just Tolentino.
The youthful NorthPort crew outgunned and outworked the Beermen, with five other locals also finishing in double figures.
Joshua Munzon rifled in 16 points, Cade Flores tossed in 15, Brent Paraiso logged in 11 and JM Calma and Jeff Chan chipped in 10 apiece.
Together, they pulled the rug from under the Beermen with strong binges in the first and third quarters.
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The Batang Pier opened with a 29-22 tear and witb a 37-29 salvo in the third, NorthPort established a 15--point spread going to the payoff period.
And so amazing were the Batang Pier, they led by as many as 26 at 113-87 before coasting to the 14-point triumph.(SB)
The scores:
NorthPort 115 - Tolentino 28, Munzon 16, Flores 15, Calma 11, Paraiso 11, Chan 10, Caperal 8, Yu 8, Amores 6, Taha 2, Ayaay 0, Balagasay 0, Salado 0.
San Miguel 101 - Aska 26, Tautuaa 18, Lassiter 16, Perez 11, Ross 10, Cruz 10, Brondial 8, Mallilin 2, Bulanadi 0.
Quarters: 29-22, 55-48, 92-77, 115-101
