PBA: Tolentino, Calma lead NorthPort charge vs. TNT for 4th straight win

Arvin Tolentino and JM Calma linked up in leading the red-hot NorthPort to a 112-96 beatdown against TNT on Friday in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tolentino, the second leading scorer of the conference behind Robert Bolick, put together a team-high 29 points on top of eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals while Calma churned out a double-double outing of 22 markers and 13 boards as the Batang Pier captured their fourth straight win to improve to 4-1. 

The Tropang Giga, on the other hand, absorbed their second loss in a row to drop to 2-3. 

Tolentino waxed hot early, registering 22 points at the halftime mark that saw NorthPort enjoy a 27-point cushion, 61-34. It wasn’t until the halfway mark of the fourth period that TNT staged some fightback behind the hot hands of rookie Kim Aurin and veteran gunner RR Pogoy. 

Aurin fired back-to-back triples to cut what was once a 32-point deficit to just 19, 71-90, before Pogoy caught fire with two consecutive three-pointers of his own to send TNT to just a 15-point disadvantage, 88-103, with 2:52 left.

TNT’s comeback came too late as NorthPort had enough weapons in its arsenal to respond and finish it off. 

Joshua Munzon chipped in 14 points while another rookie in Cade Flores chimed in with nine markers, eight rebounds, three assists, and a steal as NorthPort has yet to lose a game since their opening day overtime loss to NLEX last March 1. 

Pogoy finished with 33 points built on seven triples made together with two rebounds, two assists, and one steal while Aurin came off the bench and tallied 18 markers, three boards, one dime, and one block in just 20 minutes of action. 

Scores:

NorthPort 112 – Tolentino 29, Calma 22, Munzon 14, Flores 9, Bulanadi 7, Navarro 6, Lucero 6, Taha 5, Rosales 4, Amores 3, Paraiso 3, Adamos 2, Zamar 2, Yu 0, Cuntapay 0.

TNT 96 – Pogoy 34, Aurin 18, Oftana 13, Galinato 7, Montalbo 6, Khobuntin 5, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 4, Castro 4, Ponferrada 3, K.Williams 2, M.Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Reyes 0, Varilla 0, Heruela 0, Ebona 0.

Quarters: 32-18, 61-34, 85-57, 112-96.

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News