A highly touted rookie finally made his debut on Thursday as PBA Commissioner’s Cup action continued at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. Here is a recap of Thursday’s games:
Northport Edges Converge, Spoils Debut of No. 1 Pick Justine Baltazar
Not even the debut of highly touted no. 1 overall pick Justine Baltazar could derail the Northport Batang Pier. Facing a talented Converge FiberXers squad, the Batang Pier dug deep to pull out a 108-101 triumph to stay unbeaten in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup through five games.
Joshua Munzon who erupted for 30 points and had 3 rebounds and 3 steals, made back-to-back threes to turn a 97-all deadlock into a 103-97 Northport lead with under three minutes remaining. Import Kadeem Jack had 32 points and 15 boards for the Batang Pier, who also got 21 points and 13 rebounds from Arvin Tolentino and 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists from Evan Nelle.
The FiberXers actually started strong, building the game’s largest lead at 28-15 late in the first quarter behind the hot shooting of Jordan Heading. But turnovers continued to hound Converge, coughing the ball up 19 times to help Northport climb back and ultimately net the win. Heading finished with 30 points himself on top of 6 boards and 6 dimes. Baltazar had 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Both teams return to action on December 17 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, with Northport taking on the Phoenix Fuel Masters. The FiberXers, who dropped to 2-2, will face off against the NLEX Road Warriors.
The Scores:
- Northport (108) – Jack 32, Munzon 30, Tolentino 21, Nelle 13, Yu 6, Navarro 4, Onwubere 2
- Converge (101) – Heading 30, Stockton 16, Winston 15, Diallo 13, Arana 8, Racal 7, Baltazar 5, Santos 4, Andrade 3
Blackwater Trounces Meralco to Barge into Win Column
The Blackwater Bossing, behind import George King and Sedrick Barefield, finally barged into the win column on Thursday, trouncing the Meralco Bolts, 114-98, in the day’s main game.
King and Barefield connived for a backbreaking 16-3 run in the fourth quarter to turn an 86-85 deficit into a 101-89 advantage with less than four minutes remaining in the game. Barefiled finished with a game-high 33 points on top of 9 assists and 5 rebounds, while King 32 points and 14 boards.
Chris Newsome’s 22 points and 7 caroms paced the Bolts, who played without injured import DJ Kennedy (calf injury). Bong Quinto added 19, while Cliff Hodge chipped in 13 points and 10 boards.
The Bossing, who climbed to 1-3, next take on the San Miguel Beermen on December 15 at Ynares Center. The Bolts, who dropped to 3-1, get a two-week reprieve before they face the Converge FiberXers in the PBA’s Christmas double-header at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Scores:
- Blackwater (114) – Barefield 33, King 32, David 17, Kwekuteye 10, Ilagan 6, Suerte 6, Casio 4, Chua 4, Montalbo 2
- Meralco (98) – Newsome 22, Quinto 19, Hodge 13, Black 12, Jose 8, Reyson 7, Rios 5, Torres 5, Caram 4, Pasaol 3
PBA Commissioner’s Cup Continues
Friday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup double-header will be at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium again and will have San Miguel going up against the Terrafirma Dyip in the curtain-raiser. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Phoenix Fuel Masters tussle in the nightcap.
