NorthPort's Joshua Munzon. PBA ImagesMANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – NorthPort has extended its unbeaten run in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner's Cup.
The Batang Pier did this by making the right plays down the stretch to survive Magnolia, 107-103, on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
It looked like NorthPort was the runaway winner already after eking out a 13-point, 94-81 cushion with 5:16 left in the last frame.
But no lead is safe, at least for the Hotshots, who unleashed a 14-2 run to close within one, 96-95, capped by a Joseph Eriobu layup.
Joshua Munzon then drained key baskets to keep the lead with the Batang Pier — a four-point shot and a jumper — for a 102-95 separation.
In their last push, Hotshots' Jerom Lastimosa was able to force a foul on a four-point attempt, earning a trip to the line. He was able to drain three out of four, and Aris Dionisio helped that final gasp by sinking a trey to cut the lead to two, 105-103.
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Fran Yu then showed up in crunch time as he sank two freebies off a Magnolia duty foul and stripped the ball from Eriobu to seal the game for the Batang Pier.
Import Kadeem Jack top-scored for Bonnie Tan, firing 30 points and also collected 11 rebounds, while Arvin Tolentino had 27. Munzon claimed Best Player of the Game honors after concluding the match with a 25-9 stat line, including five steals.
Lastimosa, in his best game yet in a Magnolia jersey, dropped 27 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the loss.
With the win, NorthPort ascended to the top, gaining a 3-0 win-loss record, while the Chito Victolero-coached squad dropped to 1-2, suffering two consecutive defeats.
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, Mendoza0
QUARTERS: 28-31, 59-52, 77-78, 107-103