Munzon, Giant Risers bounce back with ripping of Bossing
Joshua Munzon knew all along what a handful of reporters would be asking when he emerged from the dugout after Titan Ultra’s skid-snapping 97-86 win over Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Not everything is going to go your way,” Munzon said, referring to the end of the Giant Risers’ collapse against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters 10 days earlier. “But I’m happy we bounced back, got the win, and we’re moving on to the next games and trying to get more wins.”
Titan Ultra lost after squandering a 19-point third-quarter lead, but most of those who witnessed it understandably had Munzon’s foul on Anton Asistio during the final seconds in mind.
Asistio was awarded four free throws that enabled Rain or Shine to pull off an escape act, while Munzon became a subject of talk on social media.
“In my opinion, the foul was on the floor,” he countered. “I mean, I’ve watched games all throughout the week, NBA games, same thing happened, the foul was on the floor. I mean, that’s just my opinion, that’s what I saw when I watched it.
On cue
“It is what it is, and the call didn’t go our way,” he went on. “It’s part of the game and it’s part of basketball, so we’re just moving forward. I mean, I had no choice.”
As if on cue, Munzon played like he didn’t have a choice but to stand out against the Bossing and be a key part of Titan Ultra’s victory by bucking foul trouble and contributing 18 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals.
He wasn’t the only reason why the Giant Risers rose to 2-4.
Calvin Abueva delivered 23 points, had 14 rebounds, six assists and two blocks; Fran Yu came off the bench to fire 14 points, spiked by three triples in the fourth that allowed Titan Ultra to pull away, while Aljun Melecio, whose 21 against Rain or Shine went for naught in that loss, added 11.
“I think a lot of us got to rest and got our bodies back, right?” Munzon said of the long break. “So we were able to come out maybe a little rusty, but we still gave a strong outing tonight.”
Titan Ultra prevailed going into a big matchup on Sunday against Barangay Ginebra at Ynares Center-Montalban in Rodriguez, Rizal, an important one that could boost its playoff hopes.
Blackwater fell to 1-4 after a fourth straight defeat, with Sedrick Barefield putting up 18 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals and rookie Dalph Panopio posting 15 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
