PBA: Joshua Munzon, Titan Ultra deny Blackwater comeback

Joshua Munzon showed the way to carry Titan Ultra to a gritty 102-98 win over Blackwater in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

Munzon buried the dagger four-point shot in the final 90 seconds, allowing the Giant Risers to stop Bossing's bid to bounce back from an ugly 151-95 loss to Rain or Shine last Tuesday. That loss became the biggest winning margin by any team in the league's history. 

Munzon top-scored with 25 points alongside four rebounds and four assists while Michael Gilmore posted a double-double outing of 21 markers 15 boards to make up for his six turnovers. 

Titan Ultra thus recovered from a previous 118-105 loss to Meralco and improved to 2-3 while Blackwater slipped to a 1-4 card. 

"I give credit to the players kasi hindi sila bumigay, especially sa run ng Balckwater. Kumabaga nag-stick kami and ang battlecry namin is to play defense," Titan Ultra head coach Rensy Bajar said. 

"Tulong-tulong lang and we're playing as a team."

Titan Ultra broke the game wide open early on when Von Pessumal hit three free throws, creating a 47-27 cushion in the second period while a Munzon three-pointer built a 52-39 lead. 

But the Bossing turned to Robert Upshaw in their rampage as the import fueled an 11-2 run to close out the firsthalf trailing by just four, 54-50. 

Sedrick Barefield then caught fire in the third quarter after dropping 15 of his total points, including a three-pointer that forced a 77-all deadlock. Still, the Giant Risers did just enough to carry a slim 82-79 lead into the fourth quarter. 

Blackwater took an 87-86 lead off a pair of free throws from RK Ilagan, but the Giant Risers answered with an 8-0 run capped by a triple from Gilmore, 94-87. 

The Bossing continued to threaten with Upshaw and Barefield pulling them to within four, 94-98. But Munzon quickly shifted the momentum back to Titan Ultra, knocking down a massive four-pointer off a Fran Yu dish with 1:29 left. 

Blackwater failed to recover even after back-to-back baskets from Upshaw and Richard Escoto as Titan Ultra survived despite squandering a 20-point lead. 

The loss saw Upshaw and Barefield each pouring in 25 points while Dalph Panopio posted 10 markers. 

Scores:

Titan 102 – Munzon 25, Gilmore 21, Dionisio 11, Javillonar 7, Ular 7, Yu 7,Sajonia 6, Cuntapay 5, Pessumal 5, Balanza 4, Omega 4, Ambohot 0, Caralipio 0.

Blackwater 98 – Barefield 25, Upshaw III 25, Panopio 10, Tratter 9, Escoto 9, David 7, Ilagan 4, Murrell 3, Guinto 3, Cruz-Dumont 3, Mallilin 0, Una 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarters: 36-21, 54-50, 84-83, 102-98.

—JKC, GMA News