North Port Batang Pier turned the tables in the second quarter, and put away the NLEX Road Warriors, 114-87, for their first triumph on Thursday in the 2024-2025 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioners Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Batang Pier, led by Arvin Tolentino, held the Road Warriors to just 12 points in the second canto.
Tolentino knocked in 15 of his game-high ko29 points during the last 12 minutes of the first half.
This allowed the Batang Pier to overtake the Road Warriors, from a 21-19 first period deficit, and take a 56-41 halftime spread.
With first triumph, Batang Pier has now joined the Converge Fiber Xers and the Eastern Sports squad in the early lead.
“Bottom line, it was team effort. Because of defense, nagkaroon kami ng game plan. At nasunod ang game plan ni coach Bonnie (Tan),” said assistant coach Rensy Bajar.
Batang Pier played without injured players Jio Jalalon and Paul Zamar.
Import Kadeem Jack shot 25 points for Batang Pier while Allyn Bulanadi added 14.
NLEX drew 29 points from Michael Watkins.
Tolentino added eight points in the last period for the Batang Pier, who led by as much as 31 points, 114-83, in the fourth.
