Fran Yu stars as NorthPort drubs Brgy. Ginebra

NorthPort established the groundwork for its third consecutive PBA on Tour victory by defeating Barangay Ginebra with a game-changing 18-0 run in the second quarter.

Saturday at the Batangas City Coliseum in Batangas City, the Batang Pier seized control of the game from the Gin Kings with a ferocious second-quarter onslaught and rode that momentum to a 101-95 victory.

Bonnie Tan’s revitalized squad, which was unsuccessful after two games, is now 3-2 in the preseason tournament presented by Arena Plua and sponsored by Bingo Plus.

They dealt the Gin Kings’ third defeat in four games.

Fran Yu, a draft prospect and Letran star, was instrumental in extending the team’s winning string by scoring 21 points on 6-of-10 three-point shooting with eight assists.

Yu knocked down three of his long-range bombs and sank two clutch free throws in the final quarter to assist in establishing separation and fending off Brgy. Ginebra’s late revival.

He was flanked by JM Calma and Paul Zamar, who each scored 16 points, Arvin Tolentino, who shot 15 with nine rebounds and four rejections, and Joshua Munzon, who added 10 assists to his 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Brgy. Ginebra’s Gray scored 26 points to lead the way after scoring three last time, but the Gin Kings were unable to win consecutive games and fell to 1-3.

Gray’s early marksmanship propelled Ginebra to an early 32-17 lead, but the Batang Pier responded in the second with a 28-9 run.

Batang Pier’s 18 unanswered points transformed a NorthPort deficit of 27-39 into a 45-39 lead during this momentum-shifting period.

The scores:

NorthPort 101 – Yu 21, Zamar 16, Calma 16, Tolentino 15, Munzon 8, Bauzon 8, Salado 8, Ayaay 5. Balagasay 2, Comboy 2, Gabriel 0, Olivario 0.

Brgy. Ginebra 95 – Gray 26, Pessumal 16, David 15, Pinto 14, Mariano 10, R. Aguilar 9, Onwubere 3, Gumaru 2, Dillinger 0, Cu 0, Aurin 0.

Quarterscores: 17-32, 45-41, 68-63, 101-95.