Robert Bolick stars for NorthPort. Photo by Tristan Tamayo. INQUIRER.net
ANTIPOLO — NorthPort banked on a blistering second half to topple Alaska, 103-81, in the curtain-raiser of Wednesday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup action at Ynares Center here.
Robert Bolick and import Prince Ibeh cranked up an already fiery first-half performance to help the Batang Pier notch their first win of the conference even without skipper Stanley Pringle.
“We usually just do well until for three quarters. Come fourth, we’re no longer executing, we’re no longer playing defense.” coach Pido Jarencio said. “[Tonight] we delivered completely … We played 48 minutes of good basketball.”
Jarencio pointed to Pringle’s absence as the biggest factor to his charges’ commendable performance.
“Perhaps the players got challenged. They wanted to do their share,” he said.
Pringle sat out Wednesday’s game as he recovers from bone spur removal. He is expected to return on Saturday.
Sean Anthony’s steady showing in the Philippine Cup seemed to have carried over in the middle conference. He finished a team-best 22 points, Ibeh and Bolick both registered 19 each, with two more from the Batang Pier delivering double-digit production.
The Aces, coming off a victory in the Commissioner’s Cup opener, drew most of their points from Chris Daniels, who had 21. Simon Enciso and Jesper Ayaay both had 10.
They were also playing with 10-man rotation without Chris Banchero who played through a bum calf in the game against Columbian.
Both NorthPort and Alaska are set to play in Saturday’s skirmishes with the Batang Pier taking on NLEX Road Warriors, and the Aces colliding with TNT KaTropa.