The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
It’s a Merry, Merry Christmas for NorthPort Batang Pier, after all.
The Batang Pier ended the year 2024 on a high note, defeating Hong Kong Eastern, 120-113, and taking the solo lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Led by import Kadeem Jack and Arvin Tolentino, the Batang Pier recovered from a shock 109-115 setback to Phoenix Super LPG last Tuesday and rolled back Hong Kong Eastern to emerge with a league-best 6-1 win-loss record before the import-flavored conference takes a much-needed holiday break after Christmas Day.
Jack and Tolentino combined for 73 points to secure the victory for the Bonnie Tan-mentored Batang Pier, ahead of Eastern, Barangay Ginebra, Rain or Shine and Meralco and the rest of the participating teams.
Jack, a 6-9 power forward from Queens; New York, finished with 38 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field on top of nine rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks in almost 42 minutes of play.
Tolentino, one of the team’s most dependable scorers, added 35 points on 10-of-16 shooting, six rebounds and three assists 41 minutes of action in the Batang Pier;s victory.
Northport also got 15 points, three assists, two rebounds and two steals from Joshua Munzon and 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Will Navarro and nine points and nine assists from Fran Yu.
Chris McLaughlin tallied a monster double-double in Eastern’s losing effort, finishing with 26 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field, 19 rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes on the floor for coach Mensur Bajramovic.
Hayden Blankley added 24 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and Kobey Lam contributed with 18 points, including 2-of-2 from the four-point territory, for Eastern, which dropped to 5-2
Glen Yang chipped in with 13 points, eight assists and three rebounds.
The Batang Pier starters outperformed their Eastern counterparts, 101-73. The Eastern bench, however, outscored NorthPort;s bench, 40-19, in a game that featured 10 deadlocks and 15 lead changes.
“Basically, we just took advantage na they just came from a game sa Hong Kong kaya we outran them. Na-recover ulit namin transition points nami” said Tan in a post-game interview.
“Always fun, kapag syempre kung dayo kalaban mo. Merong laging factor talaga yung gusto mong manalo and that’s what happened today,” said Tolentino.
“I’m happy na maganda yung nilaro ko ngayon,” added Tolentino.
NorthPort won’t see action again until Jan. 8, when it takes on Barangay Ginebra at the PhilSports Arena.
The scores:
NorthPort (120)—Jack 38, Tolentino 35, Munzon 15, Navarro 10, Yu 9, Nelle 5, Flores 4, Onwubere 4, Bulanadi 0, Miranda 0, Cuntapay 0.
Eastern (113)—McLaughlin 26, Blankley 24, Lam 18, Yang 13, Guinchard 9, Chan 7, Xu 6, Cheung 4, Leung 3, Zhu 3, Pok 0.
Quarterscores: 27-32, 63-60, 90-87, 120-113