NorthPort spoils Baltazar's Converge debut, goes 5-0 in PBA Commissioner's Cup

NorthPort spoiled the debut of top pick Justine Baltazar as it defeated Converge, 108-101, in the PBA Commissioner's Cup on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

The game was tied at 97 with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter before Joshua Munzon made back-to-back triples to give the Batang Pier enough breathing room heading into crunch time. Jordan Heading made two freebies to give Converge a chance, but import Kadeem Jack buried another triple to give NorthPort a 106-99 lead with 1:22 remaining.

Free throws from Alec Stockton cut Converge's deficit to within five, 106-101, with 26 seconds remaining but Arvin Tolentino's freebies sealed the deal for NorthPort.

Jack had 32 points, 15 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and a block, while Munzon added 30 points as NorthPort remained unbeaten in five games. Tolentino also registered a double-double of 21 points, 13 boards, two steals, and two assists.

Heading had 30 points, while Stockton had 16 points as the FiberXers slipped to 2-2. Import Cheick Diallo, meanwhile, had 13 points.

Rookie Baltazar, on the other hand, had five points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in his debut.

Scores:

NorthPort 108 – Jack 32, Munzon 30, Tolentino 21, Nelle 13, Yu 6, Navarro 4, Onwubere 2, Flores 0, Tratter 0, Bulanadi 0, Cuntapay 0, Miranda 0.

Converge 101– Heading 30, Stockton 16, Winston 15, Diallo 13, Arana 8, Racal 7, Baltazar 5, Santos 4, Andrade 3, Delos Santos 0, Nieto 0, Javillonar 0, Caralipio 0.

Quarters: 24-33, 54-57, 75-76, 108-101.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News