MANILA, Philippines – In the last seconds, Robert Bolick made a three-pointer to help NorthPort defeat Phoenix, 92-89, on Wednesday in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena. 

In order to kick off the midseason conference on a positive note, Bolick scored with 12.0 seconds remaining before the Batang Pier thwarted the Fuel Masters’ attempt to force extra. 

Bolick led NorthPort with 21 points, and the team triumphed a day after moving sophomore forward Jamie Malonzo to Barangay Ginebra as part of a three-team transaction in which San Miguel Beer also took part. 

One of the players acquired from Ginebra, Arvin Tolentino, had 16 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in his first game for Batang Pier.

The loss of import Prince Ibeh, who fouled out late in the game, helped the Batang Pier overcome being down for the majority of the game. The reentering reinforcement finished with 15 boards and 19 points. 

After Bolick’s corner 3-pointer, Phoenix made two attempts to tie the score, but rookie Tyler Tio failed in both instances. 

The Fuel Masters played for the first time since Jason Perkins’ surgery and Matthew Wright’s signing with Kyoto Hannaryz in Japan. 

Phoenix’s Javee Mocon scored a team-high 24 points, and import Kaleb Wesson contributed 14 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.

The Fuel Masters played for the first time since Jason Perkins’ surgery and Matthew Wright’s signing with Kyoto Hannaryz in Japan. 

Phoenix’s Javee Mocon scored a team-high 24 points, and import Kaleb Wesson contributed 14 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists.

Scores at the end of the match

NORTHPORT with 92 points for the win

Individual Scores: Bolick 21, Ibeh 19, Tolentino 16, Sumang 15, Santos 10, Balanza 6, Ferrer 3, Salado 2, Dela Cruz 0, Chan 0, Calma 0, Taha 0

PHOENIX with 89 points

Individual Scores: Mocon 24, Wesson 14, Serrano 10, Tio 10, Jazul 7, Camacho 7, Muyang 6, Lalata 4, Garcia 4, Rios 3, Lojera 0, Adamos 0, Robles 0

Scores per Quarters: 12-28, 37-37, 61-65, 92-89

On other news, Bolick hits record high score despite Batang Pier loss

Robert Bolick played like an imported player for the NorthPort Batang Pier on Friday, scoring a career-high 44 points to help his team overcome the Meralco Bolts. 

Bolick scored 22 of the final 29 points for Batang Pier to help them defeat the Bolts, 101-95, in overtime, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

Despite being down by 11 going into the payoff quarter, the former San Beda Red Lions star produced a 17-6 run in the closing five seconds of regulation to force an extra five minutes. 

He continued his scoring streak that began in overtime with a 5-0 run that featured a triple with 3:13 left in the contest, giving NorthPort a 94-89 advantage.

Allein Maliksi’s three-pointer at the 5:26 mark of the fourth quarter was Meralco’s last gasp before Bolick caught fire and obliterated them in the following ten minutes of play. At the time, they were ahead 83-72.