PBA: NorthPort braves TNT's Q4 push for 4th straight win

Arvin Tolentino's first-half brilliance was enough for NorthPort to send TNT reeling. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MAKATI--NorthPort built a huge lead enough to overcome TNT's last-ditch for a 112-96 win in their PBA Philippine Cup game on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

With Arvin Tolentino getting his groove early on, the Batang Pier quickly caught fire in the first half and eventually opened a 76-44 lead early in the third quarter.

The Tropang Giga, however, slowly crawled back behind the hot hands of RR Pogoy and cut the lead to just 15, 103-88, with 2:50 left, but the Batang Pier held on in the end.

Tolentino finished with 29 points, 22 in the first half, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while JM Calma put up a career-high 22 points and 13 rebounds for NorthPort, which matched their longest winning streak in the PBA Philippine Cup with its fourth straight victory to tie NLEX in second place at 4-1.

Pogoy finished with 34 points, 28 in the second half, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal for TNT, which dropped back-to-back games and fell to 2-3.

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