Returning veteran Robert Bolick Jr. and his four other teammates took turns in providing the needed points for NorthPort as Batang Pier pulled off a 116-103 swamping of the winless Blackwater Elite Bossing on Wednesday in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After a weeklong stint with the Gilas Pilipinas team in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Bolick reported back for NorthPort duty as he struck with a double-double performance of a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds, to go with six assists and three steals.
The 26-year-old Bolick had ample help from import Jamel Artis, Arwind Santos, Jamie Malonzo and Jerrick Balanza from start to finish.
The 6’1” Bolick, who had seven points in the last 12 minutes, knocked in a triple, got a steal in the ensuing play and knocked in a layup in the last 41 seconds, handing the Batang Pier a 15-point spread in the closing minute of the fourth quarter, 116-101.
Batang Pier notched their fourth consecutive win to move up in the standings with a 4-5 win-loss slate.
“It’s a total team effort. Everybody stepped up,” said NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio.
Artis contributed 26 points for Batang Pier, which was outrebounded, 45-54, while Santos shot 21, Malonzo made 16 and Balanza added 10.
The 6’7” Artis had six points in the third, but it was his jumper in the final five seconds, which gave the Batang Pier their biggest lead, 95-75.
The 27-year-old Artis struck hardest in the second canto with 12 points, scoring two of three treys, which gave Batang Pier the chance to move away, 54-47, with 3:37 left.
Shawn Glover banged in 47 points for the winless Bossings.
