Joshua Munzon and NorthPort avert a fourth-quarter meltdown to enhance to 3-0 and seize solo lead within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup standings
MANILA, Philippines – Large photographs by Joshua Munzon late gave NorthPort sufficient cushion to fend off Magnolia, 107-103, and keep good within the PBA Commissioner’s Cup on the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Wednesday, December 4.
Munzon scored 6 of his 25 factors inside the ultimate minute because the Batang Pier averted a meltdown to enhance to 3-0 and seize solo lead within the standings.
Kadeem Jack led NorthPort in scoring with 30 factors on prime of 11 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a pair of steals, Arvin Tolentino fired 27 factors, whereas Fran Yu added 9 factors, all on free throws, to go together with 10 assists, 4 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Jack set the tone for the Batang Pier as he dropped 21 factors at halftime earlier than Munzon, Tolentino, and Yu took turns within the endgame to disclaim the Hotshots’ impressed comeback.
Seeing their double-digit unfold diminished to a precarious 96-95 edge, Munzon scored a four-pointer and a layup in succession to push the NorthPort result in 102-95.
Tolentino made it 104-95 with a pair of foul photographs, however Magnolia fought again and uncorked an 8-1 run highlighted by 3 straight Jerom Lastimosa free throws and an Aris Dionisio triple to get inside 103-105 with underneath 10 ticks left.
Yu sank his free throws to provide the Batang Pier a four-point lead, though the Hotshots nonetheless had a shot at forcing extra time because of the availability of the four-point line.
It was not meant to be for the Hotshots, nonetheless, as Joseph Eriobu bungled his crack at a game-tying four-pointer, with Yu taking the ball away for the win-sealing steal.
The sport proved to be a defensive masterclass for NorthPort, which compelled 9 turnovers within the fourth quarter and completed with 15 steals and seven blocks.
“If we defend at a excessive stage, I believe we give ourselves a superb probability to win video games,” mentioned Munzon, who additionally recorded a game-high 5 steals with 9 rebounds and three assists.
Lastimosa, the Hotshots’ prized rookie who missed the season-opening Governors’ Cup, performed the most effective recreation of his younger profession, churning out a near-triple-double of 27 factors, 8 rebounds, and eight assists.
The previous Adamson star scored 5 factors in a 14-2 run that pulled Magnolia inside 95-96 after the Batang Pier mounted their largest lead of the sport at 94-81.
However his effort went down the drain because the Hotshots absorbed their second straight loss and dropped to 1-2.
Rome dela Rosa tallied 16 factors, Mark Barroca posted 14 factors, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and a pair of steals, whereas import Ricardo Ratliffe obtained restricted to simply 10 factors with 13 rebounds and a pair of steals.
The Scores
NorthPort 107 – Jack 30, Tolentino 27, Munzon 25, Yu 9, Nelle 5, Navarro 4, Flores 4, Onwubere 3, Bulanadi 0, Tratter 0, Miranda 0, Cuntapay 0.
Magnolia 103 – Lastimosa 27, Dela Rosa 16, Dionisio 13, Ratliffe 10, Eriobu 7, Sanaglang 6, Lucero 4, Ahanmisi 3, Abueva 3, Mendoza 0.
Quarters : 28-31, 59-52, 77-78, 107-103.
– Rappler.com
