Sep 12, 2021

NorthPort sustains romp vs NLEX, jumps up to sixth spot

NORTHPORT went 3-of-3 in its first week of action inside the Bacolor semi-bubble, capping the amazing run with a 96-94 decision over NLEX Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State U Gym.

Robert Bolick matched his career high 26 points in an outstanding performance to lead the Batang Pier past the Road Warriors after earlier wins over the Blackwater Bossing and the Terrafirma Dyip.

With those victories notched under interim coach Boni Tan, the Batang Pier bumped off the Road Warriors at sixth place with a 4-3 win-loss mark in the all-Filipino tourney.
Suddenly, they're even in the fight for the Top Two.

NLEX, meanwhile, suffered a third straight defeat and dropped to 4-5.

"Binigay lang namin ang best namin. Gusto namin manalo para sa mga coaches namin, pamilya, friends and loved ones. Sila inspiration namin," said Bolick.
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"Inspirado kami maglaro. Maganda naman kasi ang lineup namin, at ayaw namin magpatalo," Bolick added.

As in their previous games, Tan, meanwhile, credited the win to team effort and the desire of the players to help him out in the absence of coach Pido Jarencio and his staff.

"It's all team effort. At may mga assistant coaches din ako. Nandyan si Kevin Ferrer at Sean Anthony. They did a good job helping out this team na makatapos ng maayos," Tan added.

The Batang Pier sustained their romp versus the Road Warriors even with 7-1 slotman Greg Slaughter confined on the bench with a slight hip injury.

They missed Slaughter's rebounding but made up for it with hustles and key run in the third quarter.
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Paolo Taha, Anthony and Jamie Malonzo contributed at least 13 points each for the Batang Pier who created a big separation in the third before holding off the Road Warriors' chase at endgame. (SB)

The scores:

NorthPort 96 - Bolick 26, Taha 14, Anthony 14, Malonzo 13, Onwubere 9, Ferrer 8, Lanete 5, Grey 5, Elorde 2, Subido 0, Balanza 0, Doliguez 0, Faundo 0, Rike 0, Slaughter 0.

NLEX 94 - Trollano 19, Alas 13, Porter 10, Semerad 10, Oftana 8, Miranda 7, Paniamogan 5, Soyud 4, Ighalo 3, McAloney 3, Ayonayon 2, Quinahan 0, Galanza 0.

Quarters: 29-26, 48-45, 73-65, 96-94.