NorthPort Batang Pier’s Joshua Munzon against Magnolia Hotshots during a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game.
MANILA, Philippines—Northport continued to extend its blistering start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup after defeating Magnolia behind the efforts of Joshua Munzon.
Munzon was all hands on deck in the Batang Pier’s 107-103 win over the Hotshots on Wednesday that pushed them to a 3-0 start.
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“I just wanted to be aggressive. I felt like I was open a lot of times. A lot of my teammates were looking up while I was getting on transition so they were just finding me,” said Munzon.
READ: PBA: Joshua Munzon lifts NorthPort past Magnolia for 3-0 start
“That last shot, I was just open. I got the switch I wanted and I wasn’t guarded, I got open and I just took the shot. I just stayed aggressive while taking my shots with confidence.”
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Munzon nearly tallied a double-double with 25 points and nine rebounds, all while being active on both ends of the floor with three assists and five steals to match.
The two-way athletic guard was also the catalyst in Northport’s breakaway from the Hotshots, who dropped to a 1-2 card.
Magnolia was breathing down Northport’s neck, 96-95, when Munzon took matters into his own hands and launched a four-point bomb to give the Batang Pier a 100-95 cushion with 49 ticks left in the game.
READ: PBA: With pressure off, Joshua Munzon delivering more on offense
Helping Munzon on the offensive end were import Kadeem Jack and Arvin Tolentino, who tallied 30 and 27 points, respectively.
In order for the Batang Pier to keep improving, they’ll need Munzon’s aggressiveness and the squad to follow, especially with a tough assignment on Sunday against reigning Governors’ Cup champion, TNT.
“We need to be consistent when it comes to our game plans. [We have a] plus factor [in] our fastbreak points which is what we wanted to achieve in this game; to outrun Magnolia,” said assistant coach Rensy Bajar.
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“Hopefully we carry over this [momentum] heading into our game against Talk N’ Text on Sunday,” he added.