Red-hot Batang Pier make it 4-0

ANTIPOLO, Philippines — At the expense of another heavyweight, NorthPort roared to its first 4-0 conference start in franchise history.

Relying on the same shot-stopping formula that has worked wonders in their first three games, the Batang Pier stunned the TNT Tropang Giga, 100-95, to continue their roll in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last night at the Ynares Center.

The pacesetting Batang Pier held the reigning Governors’ Cup champs to a single point in the last 2:33 to complete the lionhearted comeback from 11 points down and follow up their 107-103 reversal over Magnolia last Wednesday.

“Defense won it for us in this game. We know TNT has a lot of offensive threats and luckily we’re able to stop their import in the second half,” NorthPort assistant coach Renzy Bajar said, referring to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who was limited to five in the last two quarters.

“Plus factor doon ‘yung defense nila Will Navarro, Josh Munzon and even Sidney Onwubere na nag-step up sa defensive scheme namin in the second half. Credit to the players, they played hard, especially in the second half.”

Kadeem Jack shrugged off early foul trouble to bang in 27 points and 11 rebounds plus three blocks for NorthPort, which is now alone at the top ahead of Meralco (3-0).

Munzon fired 20 spiked by the dagger trey at the 1:28 mark of the fourth, to go with four steals as Arvin Tolentino posted 17-11-4 to go with three steals and three blocks, and Navarro netted 12-9-3 plus four steals and two blocks to lead the local support.

Hollis-Jefferson finished with 19 points on 5-of-19 field goals for TNT which slipped to 0-2 without key players Jayson Castro (hamstring), Kelly Williams (personal matters) and Poy Erram (suspension).