NORTHPORT made a very strong statement by hurdling Magnolia, 107-103, Wednesday and stretch its unbeaten run in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Batang Pier's defense and fast-paced game, coupled by some key plays in the stretch, enabled them to hold off the Hotshots and improve to 3-0 in the mid-season conference.
"Kailangan lang number 1, is to be consistent talaga kami," said assistant coach Rensy Bajar, subbing for head coach Bonnie Tan in the post-game presser.
"Nagpanalo sa amin dito is 'yung defense. Then plus factor 'yung fastbreak points namin, which is iyun talaga gusto naming ma-achieve ngayong game na ito - to outrun Magnolia," added Bajar.
"If we play Magnolia sa set-set lang, kumbaga, we'll be at a disadvantage. That's why we get our advantage on our fastbreak points. So stops and then outrun Magnolia."
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Indeed, NorthPort stuck to the gameplan and emerged with a 22-6 advantage in fastbreak points, apart from forcing Magnolia to committing 24 turnovers, nine of those in the fourth quarter.
The Batang Pier also swiped the ball 12 times, with Joshua Munzon pulling off five steals and Fran Yu four, aside from seven blocked shots.
"If we defend at a high level, I think we'll give ourselves a good chance to win more games," said Munzon.
Kadeem Jack led the offense with 30 points and 11 rebounds, Arvin Tolentino fully came alive in the second half with 19 of his 27 points and Munzon laced his 25 points with nine rebounds.
Magnolia did manage to make a game of it by pulling within 95-96 after staring at an 81-94 deficit.
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Munzon boomed in a four-pointer and, following a Sydney Onwubere block on Ricardo Ratliffe and a jumpball the Batang Pier won, got a fastbreak basket off Yu's 10th assist that sparked a 9-0 run.
Jerom Lastimosa's free throws and Aris Dionisio's triple pulled the Hotshots within 103-105, but Yu coolly canned two charities before foiling Joseph Eriobu's try for a four-pointer just before the final buzzer.
The loss was Magnolia's second straight, dropping it to 1-2 and putting for naught Lastimosa's personal season-high 27 points on top of eight rebounds and as many dimes.
Rome dela Rosa, Mark Barroca and Dionisio added at least 13 points each, but Ratliffe netted just 10 points against 13 rebounds and four turnovers. (NC)