NorthPort continues to fan its fiery start in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
Kadeem Jack struggled to get things going early on.
The NorthPort reinforcement missed most of the first quarter action after getting into foul trouble in the opening minutes of the Batang Pier's duel against TNT at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Averaging 29 points entering the game, Jack wound up with only seven in the first 24 minutes of play.
But the 6-foot-9 Trinidadian-American refused to let the slow start get to him.
Jack found his groove after the break and helped NorthPort repel the Tropang Giga, 100-95.
He finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, but his best highlight came on the defensive end after swatting away Calvin Oftana’s attempt from the four-point line in the final moments.
It was Joshua Munzon who earned the Best Player of the Game nod with an all-around outing with 20 points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals for the Batang Pier, who are showing they are legit with their fourth straight triumph in as many games.
[WATCH: Joshua Munzon ushers NorthPort to victory anew]
Arvin Tolentino turned in 17 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and the same number of blocks. William Navarro added 12 points, nine boards three assists, four steals and two blocks.
Down 93-94, Evan Nelle managed to sneak through TNT’s defense and score an easy basket to put the Batang Pier back in front.
Tolentino then drove from top of the key and made a fallaway basket over Calvin Oftana, before Munzon launched a left corner triple to ice the final score.
Defense is the key for NorthPort Batang Pier
NorthPort simply clamped down on defense from there and eventually kept the Tropang Giga winless in their first two games.
“The defense wins us this game. We know TNT has a lot of threats especially on their offense. Luckily, we stopped their import (Rondae Hollis-Jefferson) in the second half,” said assistant coach Rensy Bajar, whose team had 15 steals and nine blocks.
Calvin Oftana paced TNT with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 19 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks while also committing a game-high seven turnovers.
[ALSO READ: Undrafted rookie Jielo Razon makes most of PBA debut with TNT Tropang Giga]
RR Pogoy added 17 markers.
The Scores:
NORTHPORT 100 – Jack 27, Munzon 20, Tolentino 17, Navarro 12, Nelle 8, Yu 6, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 3, Bulanadi 3, Flores 0, Miranda 0.
TNT 95 – Oftana 20, Hollis-Jefferson 19, Pogoy 17, Khobuntin 14, Galinato 10, Nambatac 9, Aurin 4, Razon 2, Heruela 0, Exciminiano 0, Ebona 0.
Quarterscores: 26-22, 45-52, 72-73, 100-95