MANILA, Philippines – In the PBA Governors Cup on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, NorthPort defeated Terrafirma 112-93 wire-to-wire behind a new career-high 31 points from William Navarro and what appeared to be an extra spark from “resident import” Venky Jois.

After a 95-101 loss to TNT on Tuesday, Navarro received the extra playing time he desired, scoring 24 of his points in the second half to help the Batang Pier build as big as a 106-79 lead and advance to their first Group A victory.

Then after his strong performance, Navarro showed unflinching confidence in his shooting ability. The youthful player received five more minutes to play in this match after struggling in the TNT game, when he finished with just six points in twenty minutes. He took advantage of the chance and increased his offensive production significantly.

Navarro’s shooting accuracy was astounding; 13 of his 20 field goal attempts were completed. His skill set went beyond the arc, as demonstrated by the three of five three-pointers he made. His team’s victory was greatly enhanced by this effective shooting performance, which also demonstrated his potential as a dependable scorer.

The player’s enhanced play demonstrated how crucial playing time and opportunity are in basketball. With more time on the court, Navarro was able to get into a groove and show off his genuine skills. His ability to recover from a poor performance further demonstrated his mental toughness and drive to help his team win.

With his assured shooting and rising numbers, Navarro has the ability to establish himself as a vital member of his squad in the coming games and even gain additional playing time and responsibility.

“Obviously, when I play more – obviously coach gave me the opportunity – I’m gonna deliver. I just need to be on the court more,” Navarro stated.

Jois also took center stage when he successfully resolved the paperwork that was keeping him from playing for TNT.

The Australian, who played for NorthPort for the first time in the Commissioner’s Cup last season, finished with 16 points on 8 of 12 field goals, 15 rebounds, and six assists.

Jois replaced Taylor Johns, despite the latter’s 36 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists against TNT. “Venky is our resident import. So in terms of familiarity, nandoon na siya. Hindi lang siya umabot ng first game,” Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan explained.

Tan commended Johns for his excellent work but reaffirmed the team’s previous dedication to Venky. He clarified that there was already a deal in place for Venky to rejoin the group. This quote emphasized the intricate nature of managing a professional basketball team, where past agreements and long-term plans must be balanced with player performances. Tan implied that the team’s plans for Venky remained the same in spite of Johns’ outstanding performance.

It was Terrafirma’s second lopsided defeat after Converge thrashed them 95-107 on Wednesday.

Even though Antonio Hester recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds and Stanley Pringle finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Dyip fell behind early in the third quarter.

Kevin Ferrer and Juami Tiongson both scored 13 points, but Christian Standhardinger fell short of expectations once more, finishing with just eight points on 4-of-12 shooting and seven rebounds.

In addition to failing to stop NorthPort’s more fluid assault, Fran Yu’s buzzer-beating heave from the backcourt gave the Batang Pier an 85-70 lead heading into the fourth quarter, seemingly ending Terrafirma’s chances of winning the game.

Scores at the end of the match.

NORTHPORT with 112 points

Individual Scores – Navarro 31, Jois 16, Munzon 14, Tolentino 10, Amores 8, Jalalon 8, Yu 7, Nelle 6, Tratter 5, Cuntapay 3, Bulanadi 2, Flores 2, Taha 0.

TERRAFIRMA with 93 points

Individual Scores – Tiongson 19, Pringle 17, Hester 13, Ferrer 13, Standhardinger 10, Carino 9, Cahilig 5, Hernandez 5, Ramos 2, Olivario 0.

Scores per quarter

30-20, 51-43, 85-70, 112-93