The PBA Commissioner’s Cup continued on Thursday with another double-header, this time at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Here is a recap of the action:
Northport Bucks Slow Start, Cruises Past NLEX
It took a while before the Northport Batang Pier (1-0) could find their stride against the NLEX Road Warriors (0-1) on Thursday—but once they did, they zoomed ahead to victory.
Northport bucked an early 16-point hole and some ice-cold shooting to cruise past NLEX, 114-87, and get its first win in the PBA’s midseason tourney.
Arvin Tolentino continued his offensive onslaught this season, scoring 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting to lead the Batang Pier, who broke the game wide open by outscoring the Road Warriors, 70-38, in the middle two quarters. Import Kadeem Jack added 25 points and 6 caroms, while Allyn Bulanadi chipped in 14.
Michael Griffin-Watkins paced NLEX with 29 points and 19 rebounds, while Richie Rodger added 11. Javee Moccon and Anthony Semerad dropped 10 apiece for NLEX, which led 29-21 after one.
The Scores:
Northport 114 – Tolentino 29, Jack 25, Bulanadi 14, Munzon 12, Yu 8, Navarro 7, Miranda 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 4, Taha 2, Flores 2, Tratter 2
NLEX 87 – Watkins 29, Rodger 11, Mocon 10, Semerad 10, Amer 6, Torres 6, Bolick 3, Nieto 3, Nermal 3, Policarpio 2, Valdez 2, Herndon 2
Magnolia Crushes Blackwater in Ricardo Ratliffe’s Return
The Magnolia Hotshots gave the returning Ricardo Ratliffe a rousing welcome back, crushing the Blackwater Bossing, 118-100, in Thursday’s nightcap.
The Hotshots gradually pulled away from the Bossing starting in the second quarter, turning a slim 29-27 advantage after one into a 50-41 advantage going to intermission. A 32-18 third quarter put Magnolia ahead 82-69 going to the payoff period, where Paul Lee, Jerrick Ahanmisi, and Ratliffe connived to keep Blackwater at bay.
Ratliffe, who saw action for Magnolia in 2017, registered 30 points, 18 boards, 5 assists, and 2 steals in his return to PBA action. Ahanmisi added 21 and 4, while Mark Barroca chipped in 15 points and 8 assists. Rookie Jerom Lastimosa contributed 9 points and 4 dimes in his Hotshots debut.
George King led the way for Blackwater with 42 markers on top of 12 rebounds and 5 steals but was just 16-for-36 from the field. Sedrick Barefield finished with 24.
The Scores:
Magnolia 118 – Ratliffe 30, Ahanmisi 21, Barroca 15, Lucero 13, Lastimosa 9, Lee 9, Dela Rosa 8, Dionisio 6, Sangalang 3, Abueva 2, Balanza 2
Blackwater 100 – King 42, Barefield 24, David 8, Chua 6, Tungcab 4, Kwekuteye 3, Ponferrada 3, Hill 3, Guinto 2, Corteza 2, Montalbo 2, Suerte 1
Games on Tap
The PBA Commissioner’s Cup continues on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium with the Phoenix Fuel Masters taking on the Meralco Bolts in the first game and the Converge FiberXers facing off with Hong Kong Eastern in the second game.
