Joshua Munzon again answered the call for Northport to pull off a 108-101 win over Converge and stretched its undefeated run in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Thursday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Munzon tallied a game-high 30 points, highlighted by two straight clutch baskets from three-point range to put the Batang Pier in front for good and spoiled the highly-awaited league debut of no. 1 overall pick Justine Baltazar.
The six straight points of the Fil-Am forward broke the game’s final deadlock at 97-all as the Batang Pier notched their fifth straight victory.
The 5-0 record kept Northport on top of the standings, stretched the team’s best start in franchise history, and equaled the longest win streak of the 12-year old ballclub.
“It was a back and forth game, but at the end of the day, we just ended up making more shots. More than anything else, I’m happy that we’re 5 and 0,” said Munzon, who also added three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
The victory ruined the first game of the 6-foot-8 Baltazar for Converge, which fell to an even 2-2 record.
Baltazar, who just steered the Pampanga Giant Lanterns to a second straight MPBL championship, had five points, four rebounds, and three assists in 20 minutes of play, but was hardly a factor down the stretch for the FiberXers.
Fellow rookie Jordan Heading carried the load for Converge in the fourth quarter where he scored 10 of his team-high 30 points, while Alec Stockton added 16 and nailed a three pointer that tied the game for the last time at 97 with 2:55 to go.
Munzon then stepped on the plate by hitting back-to-back 3s, before import Kadeem Jack added another from the same area on a lucky bounce to cap a 9-2 run that gave the Batang Pier a 106-99 lead.
“We just discussed na huwag naming ibibigay sa isang rookie (in his first game) yung magandang ginagawa natin sa first four games,” said coach Bonnie Tan of Northport’s pre-game huddle.
“At least nag step up yung players natin to get that fifth win. Kumbaga yung run that was done by the team ay masisira lang ng isang rookie player. So na-challenge siguro sila sa ganun and na-realize ng mga players na masasayang nga yung 4-0 start nila.”
Saddled with foul trouble, Converge import Cheick Diallo was held to just 13 points and nine rebounds.(PBA)
The scores
NORTHPORT (108): Jack 32, Munzon 30, Tolentino 21, Nelle 13, Yu 6, Navarro 4, Onwubere 2, Flores 0, Tratter 0, Bulanadi 0, Cuntapay 0, Miranda 0.
CONVERGE (101): Heading 30, Stockton 16, Winston 15, Diallo 13, Arana 8, Racal 7, Baltazar 5, Santos 4, Andrade 3, Delos Santos 0, Nieto 0, Javillonar 0, Caralipio 0.
QUARTERS: 24-33; 54-57; 75-76; 108-101.