TAKEAWAYS: ARE NORTHPORT BATANG PIER FOR REAL OR JUST INTROVOYS 2.0?
NORTHPORT remains the hottest team in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as it registered a fifth straight win by outplaying Converge in the stretch run, 108-101, and stayed on top of the standings after Thursday night.
The Batang Pier leaned on three straight clutch three pointers of Joshua Munzon and import Kadeem Jack to take the fight out of the FiberXers, who unleashed top rookie pick overall Justine Baltazar for the first time this season.
In the other game at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Blackwater barged into the win column after beating a shorthanded Meralco team, 114-98.
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It took a combined fourth quarter effort by import George King and rookie guard Sedric Barefield to take down a hard-fighting Bolts unit, which played without an import and missed the services of six local players.
Here are some of the takeaways in the weekday doubleheader held simultaneously with the Philippines-Myanmar match in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup at the nearby Rizal Memorial Stadium.
1.MUNZON ON THE RISE – the inspired plays of the former top rookie pick is one of the major reasons why the Batang Pier are on top of the mid-season conference. The 29-year-old Fil-Am and last season's steals leader made a career-high 30 points in the win over Converge, which he instigated by draining back-to-back 3s to help Northport break free from a 97-all contest. He emerged as the Best Player of the Game in the last three wins of the Batang Pier and certainly plays a major role on how far the franchise can go in the tournament. A Munzon-Arvin Tolentino combo is definitely going to be a force to reckon with for rival teams.
2.CAN NORTHPORT GO ALL THE WAY? – With a league-best 5-0 record, the Batang Pier are off to the best start in franchise history and just tied the longest winning streak of the team. Will the winning run hold through? Northport has had great starts in the past, but would usually fall apart in the early goings of the playoffs, earning the team the label Introvoys 2.0 (after Magnolia). All eyes are definitely on the Batang Pier in the coming days as they still have to contend against the other top teams such as Barangay Ginebra, defending champion San Miguel, Meralco, Rain or Shine, and even guest team Eastern.
PHOTO: Mark Cristino
3.QUIET DEBUT FOR BALTI – more work is needed for the season’s No. 1 overall pick in light of a so-so PBA debut for the FiberXers. Expectations are naturally high for the 6-foot-8 native of Mabalacat, Pampanga following a decorated career that saw him emerge a two-time MVP and two-time champion in the MPBL with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns. But Balti played low key in his first game in Asia’s oldest professional league, suiting up for just 20 minutes and attempting just five times to finish with five points and four rebounds. Still, sky is the limit for the big man out of De La Salle especially once he gets settled down with the FiberXers.
2024-12-13T08:11:16Z
