Batang Pier get over hump
MANILA, Philippines — NorthPort climbed out of its 0-2 hole in the PBA on Tour as it took down debuting TNT, 99-90, yesterday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Joshua Munzon and MJ Ayaay combined for 19 in the fourth quarter and fuelled a 15-2 salvo in the last three minutes en route to the Batang Pier’s breakthrough at the expense of a TNT side that played without several stars.
Munzon topscored with 16 while Ayaay finished with 15 in leading Bonnie Tan’s squad over the hump following opening losses to Meralco, 89-97, and San Miguel Beer, 75-87.
Paul Zamar added 13 while Fran Yu, a draft aspirant from Letran, contributed 11.
Glenn Khobuntin, with 24, and Carl Bryan Cruz, with 21, led the way for TNT, which is campaigning in the pre-season sans Jayson Castro, RR Pogoy, Mikey Williams, Calvin Oftana and Kelly Williams.
The reigning Governors’ Cup champions actually got off to a good start and went up by as many 10, 38-28, early on. But the Batang Pier fought back and eventually found their bearing in the final canto.
A 13-0 blast sparked by Ayaay put NorthPort on top, 78-72, and though TNT managed to wrest control, 88-84, the Batang Pier held tough to pull it off.
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