ARVIN Tolentino picked up from where he left off, flirting with a triple-double and leading NorthPort past Terrafirma, 97-75, Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Despite being more of a facilitator in the first half, the Best Player of the Conference in the last Commissioner's Cup still finished with 19 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds in leading the Batang Pier to a resounding start in the season-ending tourney.
Tolentino said it was a matter of trying to play through the pressure of having a big bull's eye on his jersey, something he diligently worked on in practice. "There's an X on my back, di ba? Whenever a player wins an award talagang meron ng ganoon," he said.
"'Yun 'yung isa na wino-work out ko, especially during practice, 'yung sharing the ball, making sure na maganda read ko sa defense, and... I can't rely on my scoring lang, di ba? Dahil I'm sure 'yung mga teams iyun ang unang titingnan sa akin," added Tolentino.
"So I really have to be better on moving the ball, reading the defense. In this game medyo maganda naman naging result."
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With Tolentino leading the way, NorthPort emerged with a 27-12 advantage in the assists department, something the team should at least reprise in its remaining games starting with the one against Rain or Shine on Wednesday.
"Maganda ball movement namin for this game. We had 27 assists na sana ma-capitalize namin for our next games, especially this coming Wednesday," said NorthPort deputy coach Rensy Bajar.
William Navarro also did his ample share by coming off the bench and submitting his own double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds that helped the Batang Pier finish with a 45-42 advantage off the boards.
"Tulong-tulong lang kami in terms of the little things, like rebounding, assists department," noted Bajar.
With Joshua Munzon, Allyn Bulanadi and Sydney Onwubere each winding up with at least 10 points each, NorthPort managed to take control with a 12-0 run to end the opening period before posting as much as an 85-61 lead, only 5:55 left in the game.
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It was the second straight loss in three games for Terrafirma, notwithstanding the 16 points of rookie CJ Catapusan and the 15 markers of veteran Kevin Ferrer.
The Dyip simply could not come up with any sustained scoring run as they ultimately finished with a 27-of-78 clip from the field as well as 23 turnovers.
Mark Sangalang, who averaged 22 points in Terrafirma's first two games, could only manage 10 this time with his woes compounded by him committing a fifth foul with still 2:49 left in the third period.(NC)
