Tolentino leads NorthPort to second win

MANILA, Philippines — NorthPort gunner Arvin Tolentino turned in a rousing debut in the PBA On Tour as he powered the Batang Pier to a 112-95 rout of Blackwater yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

After sitting out the first three games coming off his stint with Southeast Asian Games-winning Gilas Pilipinas, Tolentino went to work for NorthPort and rifled in 22 points spiked by four triples in close to 24 minutes of action.

Tolentino knocked down three of his long bombs in the third period to restore a 16-point spread for the Batang Pier after the Bossing went to within eight from a high of 22 in the first half.

He followed this up with a nine-point outburst in the fourth to help the squad widen the gap to 26 at one point.

Joshua Munzon fired 19, Paul Zamar scored 17 and JM Calma netted 16 in backing up Tolentino as NorthPort won back-to-back after their 99-90 pre-season breakthrough over shorthanded TNT.

At 2-2, Bonnie Tan’s troops drew level with the Bossing.

It was actually the troika of Zamar, Munzon and Calma who got the ball rolling for the Batang Pier’s initial 45-23 tear in the first half.

“Lahat naman nag-step up,” said Tolentino, who caught fire after a quiet four points in the first 24 minutes. “Medyo so-so yung first half, buti nakapag-adjust nung second half at bwinenas na ma-shoot yung mga tira.”

Later, Sean Anthony delivered a 22-16-11 triple-double while Ben Adamos posted a 27-10 double-double as NLEX climbed out of a 0-3 hole at the expense of Phoenix (0-2) via a similar 112-95 scoreline.

The Road Warriors detonated a 35-16 blast in the second quarter to rip the game apart, 63-40, en route to their maiden victory.