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Joshua Munzon keeps focus amid NorthPort’s ownership shift


Everything remains status quo as far as Joshua Munzon is concerned regarding NorthPort and the cloud of uncertainty floating above the team.

Unless the concerned parties formally address whatever needs addressing, the two-way specialist and the other remaining Batang Pier are simply focusing on what they can control — to prepare for the upcoming PBA season, that is.

“I’m just staying ready,” he said before heading out of the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall as he joined the team for the Season 50 Draft festivities on Sunday night.

“Staying ready to play basketball, and be ready for whatever happens. They haven’t formally said anything to us yet, but we could kinda see the changes being made. At the same time, I think some of that stuff, we don’t control, so we just have to control what we can.

“And that’s just being ready to play,” continued the 30-year-old combo guard, “and come October, try to put the best product we can on the court.”

Munzon and members of NorthPort attended the draft proceedings even as the franchise’s lock, stock, and barrel sale remains under review by the league.

Pureblends Corporation, a food solutions provider specializing in custom food manufacturing, has bought the club for Php 90 million and has already submitted the necessary documents to the PBA office for approval.

Now, everybody’s waiting to see how the next few days will unfold, especially now that the league’s golden season is opening in less than a month.

Should things fall into place, Munzon and the others — such as Calvin Abueva and Cade Flores — could be wearing Pureblends colors by October 5, shedding the orange Batang Pier shade that first came out in 2018.

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It would also mark a fresh start for the PBA after spending the last 13 years with the franchise, bought by Sultan 900 Capital Inc. from the Powerade Tigers.

But until everything is final, Munzon chooses to stay locked in on Season 50, carrying with him the same mentality he had when NorthPort began to wave goodbye to key cogs one after the other — starting with Arvin Tolentino.

“This is Year 9 for me as a professional basketball player, so my job is to always be ready to play no matter where I’m at, or whatever team I play for. I’ve always had that mentality, so I’m just gonna carry that mentality into this,” he said.

“And you know, I think we all should be ready to play. I mean, it’s our job at the end of the day. If you’re not gonna be ready to play, it’s gonna show. I mean, it’s more of a mental thing, whether we’re playing for NorthPort or Pureblends or however it goes,” the 2021 no. 1 overall pick by Terrafirma added.

“We’re just gonna have to be ready to compete and play on the court.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


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