MANILA, Philippines — Pitted against an opponent with big-time struggles, NorthPort quickly pounced on this golden chance to sail out of its mini-slump and into the playoffs.
The Batang Pier pummeled skidding and depleted Blackwater, 106-89, to snap a two-game slide and more importantly secure their spot in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals with a 6-4 record yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Joshua Munzon took the cudgels in a balanced scoring attack for Bonnie Tan’s crew, firing a team-high 20 spiked by a 4-of-7 marksmanship from beyond the arc, plus four rebounds, four assists and four steals. Highlight of the Season 46 top draft pick’s heroics came in the second and third periods, where he dropped 16 and greased the pullaway of the Batang Pier.
As always, import Venky Jois was a rock and produced 19 markers, 20 boards, seven assists and three blocks even as Paul Zamar chipped in 13, all of them in the third to help NorthPort widen the gap, and JM Calma and Kris Rosales added 10 each.
With such contributions, Arvin Tolentino, the league’s leading local gunner, didn’t have to score heavily in the first game of 2024. Tolentino, who averaged 23, had 10.
“It feels good to start the year off with a win and build momentum going to the playoffs,” said Munzon after his first Player of the Game accolade.
“We’re on the right track,” said Tan, who steered NorthPort back to the Last-8 after its early ouster in the Season 47 Governors’ Cup.
“It was a crucial game in terms of placing (in the quarterfinals). Now we have to win our next game against Ginebra on Sunday to get a better position,” he added.