Batang Pier avoid shutout

MANILA, Philippines —  NorthPort made sure its dream run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup wouldn’t turn into dust on Ash Wednesday.

Under threat of an embarrassing sweep in the semifinals, the top-seeded Batang Pier moved heaven and earth to sneak one on Barangay Ginebra, 108-103, and live for another day.

Hardly felt in the first three matches, NorthPort ace Arvin Tolentino dished out a near-triple-double of 20 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists to go with four steals to typify NorthPort’s defiant stand at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I really had to, otherwise, we’re out of it,” said Tolentino, who capped his heroics with two free throws that gave NorthPort a five-point cushion in the last 8.5 seconds amid Ginebra’s searing uprising from 11 down.

With Kadeem Jack’s 39-15-5, William Navarro’s 16 spiked by a 4-of-5 clip from three, Joshua Munzon’s 14 and Paolo Taha’s veteran presence and 11 points complementing Tolentino’s all-around effort, NorthPort broke through and extended the series to a Game 5 tomorrow.

“First thing the coaching staff led by coach Bonnie Tan pointed out to the players was energy and aggressiveness on defense,” assistant coach Renzy Bajar said after the life-saving win after three blowout losses (115-93, 119-103, 127-100).

Foiled in their initial attempt to get on the hill in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, the Tropang Giga doubled down on effort to meet this objective in Game 4 against Rain or Shine, 93-85.

Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy did the heavy lifting  with 26 and 22 points, respectively. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson shot 17 with 11 rebounds as TNT moved up to 3-1.