9NorthPort leaned on its outside shooting in the third period to finally record a win and end the unbeaten run of the Meralco Bolts, 109-98.
Batang Pier’s first win ended a five-game losing skid on Thursday in the 2022 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The Batang Pier connected with six of their 10 three-point attempts in the third period and took control the rest of the game.
Arwind Santos started it all with one of his two treys in the last 8:42, kicking off a 15-4 blast that gave the Batang Pier a 23-point spread at the end of the period, 84-61.
Troy Rike, who only had 10 points, capped the Batang Pier’s climb to their biggest lead with another triple, 86-66, in the final 11:05 of the fourth.
“Iyung 0-5 namin, puro heartbreak losses iyung first three games. Tapos, iyung sa Ginebra ay wala na sa huwisyo. Sa ROS, kulang naman sa players. Wala pa si (Robert) Bolick at kaka-sign lang. Ngayon, naka-settle na ang team, medyo nagkakaroon na ng chemistry,” said Batang Pier coach Pido Jarencio.
Jamel Arits powered NorthPort with 26 points and seven rebounds to the victory, which marked the return of Bolick, who unloaded 22 points.
Tony Bishop made 34 points for the Bolts, who suffered their first loss in five outings.