NorthPort rallies from 19 down to salvage draw vs. Phoenix in tune-up amid ownership transition

The NorthPort Batang Pier  may be facing a period of uncertainty off the court, but on the hardwood, the Batang Pier showed they still have plenty of fight.

In their PBA tune-up at the Activate Hoop Arena in Mandaluyong City, NorthPort erased a 19-point deficit in the final stretch to force a 98-98 standoff against Phoenix.

The Batang Pier looked dead in the water after falling behind 82-63 at the end of the third quarter, but a furious rally in the last four minutes turned the game into a showcase of grit. 

Joshua Munzon, Cade Flores, Calvin Abueva, and Jerrick Balanza sparked the comeback with a string of hustle plays on both ends.

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Tune-up game between NorthPort/Pureblends and Phoenix ends in a 98-98 draw with the Batang Pier coming from behind | @spinph pic.twitter.com/60Rhc4sZRP

— Reuben Terrado (@reubensports) September 23, 2025

Balanza delivered the defining moment, rejecting a Tyler Tio attempt and turning it into a fastbreak that tied the game at 98 with 42 seconds left. Moments earlier, Flores converted a putback off a Munzon miss to cut Phoenix’s lead to two, 98-96.

Even with the surge, NorthPort had a chance to win outright, but Abueva’s contested short jumper in the dying seconds bounced off.

Calling the shots for NorthPort was Johnedel Cardel, steering the team as it stands at a crossroads. The franchise is in the process of being sold to Pureblends Corporation, though the deal has yet to gain formal approval from the PBA board. The looming ownership change has put added intrigue to the Batang Pier’s buildup, with management and players alike eager to prove stability and competitiveness amid transition.

The game also marked the continued integration of new faces into the roster. Rookie Chris Koon, together with recent acquisitions Von Pessumal and Jeo Ambohot, logged valuable minutes alongside veterans as the team tested combinations ahead of the new season.

For now, the official fate of NorthPort off the court hangs in the balance. But on the floor, their spirited rally against Phoenix was a timely reminder: the Batang Pier aren’t planning on fading quietly into a new chapter.

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