PBA: NorthPort clinches playoff berth with rout of Blackwater

Northport Batang Pier’s Joshua Munzon in a PBA Commissioner’s Cup game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–NorthPort used a strong third quarter to pummel Blackwater on Friday, 106-89, securing a berth in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.

The Batang Pier unloaded 39 points in that period behind the efforts of Joshua Munzon and Paul Zamar to help the club get out of a two-game slump and become the sixth team to clinch a spot in the knockout stages while rising to a 6-4 mark.

But coach Bonnie Tan was already thinking of Sunday’s game, where they play defending champion Barangay Ginebra.

“Let’s see in the crucial game on Sunday. If we want to play a team (in the playoffs) that we think is beatable, we have to win that [next game],” he said in the post-game presser at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

WATCH: Northport coach Bonnie Tan and Joshua Munzon after the victory over Blackwater. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/d9stsmWUsb

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Munzon topscored with 20 points, import Venky Jois added 19, Zamar 13, while three more finished with at least 10 points in the effort.

“It feels good, starting the year off with a win. We’re also building momentum heading into playoffs,” added Munzon.

Blackwater drew 20 points from Rey Suerte, 17 from Christian David, 14 from import Chris Ortiz, and 10 more from rookie Archie Concepcion in a campaign that has since been doomed after a few games ago.

The Bossing dropped to 1-9 in the standings.