PBA: NorthPort beats Ginebra for the first time in five years
Northport Batang Pier during a game against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
NorthPort ended a five-year losing spell against Barangay Ginebra despite squandering a big lead, holding on for a 119-116 win Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.
The Batang Pier remained on top of the standings with their seventh victory against one defeat after showing steady resolve usually displayed by traditional contenders despite wasting an 18-point defeat and losing franchise star Arvin Tolentino on six personal fouls.
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Import Kadeem Jack delivered 32 points and 16 rebounds while Joshua Munzon had 27 points, including a three-pointer that put NorthPort ahead 117-109 entering the final minute of the contest.
It appeared as though the game was already in the bag but Ginebra almost tied it up when it scored five unanswered points before Justin Brownlee was fouled while going for a three with eight seconds left.
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Northport star Arvin Tolentino during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game against Barangay Ginebra. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
But in a rare sequence, Brownlee made just two of three freethrows, missing the second attempt, and Ginebra eventually fell to 5-3 after back-to-back victories over sister teams Magnolia and San Miguel Beer.
It was NorthPort’s first win over Ginebra since Game 1 of the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals before dropping 14 in a row.
Tolentino scored 29 points before fouling out, but will take his first taste of triumph against his former team since joining NorthPort via trade in 2022 for Jamie Malonzo.
Malonzo was in uniform for Ginebra, but coach Tim Cone elected not to field the athletic forward for the second time since being placed on the active roster.
On NorthPort’s side, Jio Jalalon finally saw action after missing significant time since last conference and went scoreless with two assists in six minutes.
The game came at the backdrop of controversy surrounding NorthPort team governor Erick Arejola’s involvement in a brawl between La Salle Zobel, where his son plays, and Arandia College in the NBTC qualifiers in Las Pinas City over the weekend.
Arejola was mum when asked for comment about the incident.
