NorthPort's Joshua Munzon in action against Converge in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup, December 12, 2024 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. PBA ImagesMANILA -- The NorthPort Batang Pier got another huge performance from Joshua Munzon in a 108-101 victory against Converge in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup, Thursday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Munzon, recently named the PBA Player of the Week, torched the FiberXers for 30 points including two clutch three-pointers, steering the  Batang Pier to their fifth win in a row.

READ: NorthPort gains steam thanks to Player of the Week Munzon

Kadeem Jack led NorthPort with 32 points and 15 rebounds, while Arvin Tolentino finished with a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double to offset his seven turnovers.

The result spoiled the PBA debut of Converge big man Justine Baltazar, who finally had his first appearance for the FiberXers after completing his contract with Pampanga in the MPBL.

"More than anything, we're happy to be 5-0 right now," said Munzon, who hailed Converge as a "great team."

"They put the pressure on us defense, in transition they were on us pretty much the whole game. It's a back-and-forth game, that's a tough team. But at the end of the game, we ended up making more shots," he also said.

Converge had a slim 76-75 lead at the end of the third quarter, and big shots from Jordan Heading kept the Batang Pier from pulling away. 

An Alec Stockton triple knotted the count at 97, but Munzon nailed back-to-back three-pointers for a 103-97 lead for NorthPort with just 1:45 to go. A pair of charities by Heading made it a one-possession game, 103-99, but NorthPort responded with a Jack three-pointer -- from a Munzon dime -- to restore a more comfortable 106-99 lead with just 82 seconds left. 

Converge could not execute the rest of the way, only getting two free throws from Stockton in their ensuing possessions. They were negated by Tolentino's conversion from the line, however, as NorthPort held on for the win. 

Heading finished with 30 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Stockton finished with 16 points. But import Cheick Dallo was limited by foul trouble, tallying just 13 points and nine rebounds.

Justine Baltazar, Converge's top overall pick in the rookie draft, had five points, four boards, and three dimes in his highly-anticipated debut for the FiberXers.

Converge dropped to 2-2 in the tournament. 

The 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