The NorthPort Batang Pier continued their strong run at the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup restart in Bacolor, Pampanga, as they blasted the Terrafirma Dyip, 104-84, on Saturday, September 11.
High-flying rookie Jamie Malonzo picked up the slack after teammate Greg Slaughter got tossed for a flagrant two foul on Roosevelt Adams early in the second quarter, and finished with 14 points off 5 eye-popping dunks, with 6 rebounds and 2 steals to boot.
Garvo Lanete, meanwhile, led all scorers with 18 points off the bench with 4-of-6 threes in just 17 minutes of action, while young star Robert Bolick continued his all-around play with 15 markers, 8 assists, and 6 boards.
Off a small 35-29 lead shortly after Slaughter clocked Adams on the head for the disqualifying foul, NorthPort fired off a huge 20-5 run that included four of Malonzo’s five highlight jams capping off with a 55-33 gap at the 1:19 mark of the second period.
Terrafirma failed to recover any momentum after that aerial assault and stayed down double-digits for the entire second half, peaking with a 27-point NorthPort lead, 104-77, off two Jeepy Faundo free-throws with 1:41 left in regulation.
“I’m happy that we responded with a game plan without Greg. Also, Jamie, I’m happy that he stepped up after we lost Greg,” said interim coach Bonnie Tan in the postgame presser.
NorthPort has now won two straight games under the NCAA champion coach’s supervision, climbing to 3-3 for the conference. Meanwhile, the once-hot Dyip are skidding once again and have settled near the cellar with a 3-6 slate.
Adams and Aldrech Ramos paced the loss with 14 points apiece, while Bonbon Batiller powered the bench mob with 11 markers on 4-of-6 shooting.
Due to their one-week sit-out due to health and safety protocols, the Batang Pier are forced to keep their ship sailing on a back-to-back slate, and will next face the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday, September 12, 7 pm.
Meanwhile, the Dyip will come to a full stop for now as they await next week’s schedule.
The Scores
NorthPort 104 – Lanete 18, Bolick 15, Malonzo 14, Onwubere 10, Elorde 9, Taha 8, Faundo 6, Rike 6, Ferrer 5, Anthony 4, Subido 3, Slaughter 2, Balanza 2, Grey 2, Doliguez 0.
Terrafirma 84 – Adams 14, Ramos 14, Batiller 11, Tiongson 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 9, McCarthy 8, Camson 7, Calvo 6, Gabayni 3, Laput 2, Celda 1.
Quarters: 22-12, 55-37, 82-64, 104-84.
– Rappler.com
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