NORTHPORT recorded its largest franchise winning margin in the Philippine Basketball Association after routing Phoenix Super LPG, 115-79, on Wednesday that also established its first victory in two games this Season 46 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Robert Bolick, Kevin Ferrer and rookie Troy Rike combined for 60 points to setup the rout and keep the Fuel Masters winless in back-to-back games.
“Coach Pido [Jarencio] told us, we just couldn’t do it offense-to-offense so we focused very well on defense in our practices – and today our defense was absolutely great,” Bolick told the media during the post-game virtual interview. “We’re hoping we sustain it.”
Bolick had a great night, scoring 20 points on top of 11 assists and seven rebounds, while Kevin Ferrer poured in 20 points and nine rebounds. Rike finished also with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the three-point zone plus eight rebounds.
“We really invested on our defense, then we expect our offense to come easily, everybody will contribute and do their share,” Northport coach Pido Jarencio explained, noting he let Bolick to control the game. “I gave him the freedom, but on our defense it’s our call.”
Rookie Jamie Malonzo – the second overall pick in this year’s rookie draft – fired 15 points and collected eight rebounds, while Sidney Onwubere tallied also 15, nine rebounds and five assists.
Paolo Taha had 12 points also for the Batang Pier, who are expected to activate 7-footer Greg Slaughter on Sunday against San Miguel Beer after missing two games. Slaughter just finished his 10-day quarantine last Sunday after arriving from the United States.
The Batang Pier unleashed a sizzling 28-13 run in the second period behind Ferrer’s 10 points in that period, resulting in a 50-31 halftime cushion. In the last two quarters, they remained unstoppable and were never threatened the rest of the way.
Sean Anthony also didn’t suit up for Northport, as he’s still recovering from a left ankle injury.
The last time Northport had a largest winning margin was in the 2019 Governors’ Cup semifinals Game 1 when it scored a 124-90 victory against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
In the opposite end, the Fuel Masters suffered their largest margin of defeat in franchise history – next only to a 79-123 loss to Star (now Magnolia) in the 2017 Philippine Cup elimination round.
Vic Manuel delivered 26 points and three blocks to lead the Fuel Masters, who missed the services of Chris Banchero for the second straight game because of calf injury.
In the second game, Ian Sangalang nailed the marginal basket in the pivotal mark to send Magnolia to an 84-82 win over Alaska. Sangalang piled up 26 points, five rebounds and two blocks. The Aces — who drew 20 points and 10 rebounds from Yousef Taha — fell to 1-1 slate.