Batang Pier looking real with nipping of Tropang Giga
ANTIPOLO—For the second game in a row, Joshua Munzon knocked down a dagger triple that kept NorthPort unbeaten in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Now there’s more reason to believe that the Batang Pier are for real after going 4-0 with a 100-95 victory at the expense of a TNT squad now desperate to regain the form from last month’s title conquest as the Tropang Giga are off to a really slow start.
“We knew [TNT] was going to give us their best,” said Munzon after his left-elbow triple with 1:28 to go eventually rounded out scoring on Sunday at Ynares Center here. “So being 4-0 [this conference] is big for us.”
NorthPort now has the best start in franchise history after exceeding its win total from the previous conference, the playoffs slowly appearing to be a likely destination, barring major slipups the rest of the way.
Munzon finished with 20 points, three rebounds and four steals after another splendid showing on both ends, particularly his transition layups off stops and defending TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
“Defense is what pushed us through and everybody’s sticking together, playing together and us playing as a team is what got us here,” said Munzon.
The Tropang Giga dropped to 0-2 in a very flat start for the team that is just a month removed from capturing the Governors’ Cup title.
Vital cogs missing
Both defeats saw the TNT defense allow triple digits, the first last Friday when it was handed a 105-84 beating by guest team Eastern of Hong Kong at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
TNT was also without center Poy Erram, who was slapped a one-game suspension by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial for hitting Eastern’s Glen Yang four minutes into that contest. Erram was also fined P20,000.
What made it worse was that TNT squandered a double-digit lead of as many as 11 in the third behind its trademark defense that was key in its championship success in the first conference.
But the Tropang Giga couldn’t sustain that, and the Batang Pier eventually caught up to turn it into a seesaw battle.
Import Kadeem Jack bucked early foul trouble to finish with 27 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while Arvin Tolentino had 17 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and three blocks for NorthPort.
Calvin Oftana scored 20 and Hollis-Jefferson posted 19 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks before fouling out with 20 seconds left for his only rest.
Erram’s absence was also compounded with Commissioner’s Cup Finals Most Valuable Player Jayson Castro and veteran Kelly Williams also not suiting up. Both are expected to be back from their extended rest for the next game.
TNT is 0-2 for the first time since the 2019 Philippine Cup and can’t afford to drop another when it faces Magnolia, another team in an early slump, next on the schedule on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino.
NorthPort has Converge next Thursday at the same venue, with the latter possibly set to field No. 1 overall pick Justine Baltazar, who has just completed his MPBL duties with champion Pampanga.
Baltazar was named Season and Finals MVP after the Giant Lanterns swept the Quezon Huskers, 65-61, in Saturday’s Game 3 in San Fernando.
