NORTHPORT forced a 98-98 draw against Phoenix after coming back from a 19-point deficit at the end of the third quarter in their PBA tune-up game at the Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City.
The Batang Pier were trailing, 82-63, after three quarters before mounting a comeback behind the big plays of Joshua Munzon, Cade Flores, Calvin Abueva, and Jerrick Balanza on both ends of the floor.
SOURCES SAY Magnolia erred in trading for Navarro instead of Munzon
Balanza blocked a shot by Tyler Tio that led to a transition basket to tie the game at 98 with 42 seconds left.
In the previous play, Flores scored on a tip-in off a miss by Munzon to slice the gap to two points, 98-96. NorthPort was still down, 96-88, with only four minutes to play.
Abueva had a chance to win the ballgame on the final possession but missed a contested short jumper.
Johnedel Cardel called the shots as NorthPort's head coach with the team transitioning to a new ownership into Pureblends Corporation, the sale of which has yet to be formally approved by the league.
Among the players that also saw action in the game for NorthPort were rookie Chris Koon, and newly-acquired Von Pessumal and Jeo Ambohot.
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