NORTHPORT spoiled the debut of top rookie pick Justine Baltazar behind a 108-101 win over Converge to keep the top spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Joshua Munzon nailed back-to-back three pointers to break a tight 97-97 game and give the Batang Pier a six-point lead, it would never relinquish on the way to the thrilling win.
The Batang Pier remained unbeaten with a 5-0 record, its finest start in franchise history and equaling the team’s longest winning streak.
Coach Bonnie Tan said the Batang Pier was aware the 6-foot-8 Baltazar, the no. 1 overall pick in the last draft and two-time MVP in MPBL, will be playing his first PBA game against them.
“We just discussed na huwag naming ibibigay sa isang rookie (in his first game) yung magandang ginagawa natin sa first four games,” said 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 ny 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.”
Munzon finished with 30 points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while scoring 13 of his points in the final quarter to take away the spotlight from Baltazar.
The Converge rookie, coming off a back-to-back championship-MVP stint with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL, suited up for 20 minutes and finished with five points, four rebounds, and three assists in his first outing in the league.
Despite the center stage falling on Baltazar, another rookie in Jordan Heading carried the fight for Converge which led by as many as 13 points early in the second period.
Heading had 10 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range, while Alec Stockton added 15 (3-of-4 from beyond the arc) including the three that tied the game for the last time at 97 with 2:55 to go in the game.
Munzon then hit two from long range and Kadeem Jack had a lucky bounce from the same spot for a 9-2 exchange that gave the Batang Pier a 196-99 lead with 1:26 remaining.
Jack had 30 points as he and Munzon became the first Northport teammates to finish with 30 points in the same game since Arvin Tolentino had 35 and Venky Jois with 30 in the team’s 115-103 win over Rain or Shine in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup.
Converge fell to an even 2-2 record as import Cheick Diallo got into foul trouble and only contributed 13 points and nine rebounds.
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.
Quarterscores: 24-33; 54-57; 75-76; 108-101.
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