NorthPort held off Phoenix's strong fourth-quarter effort to hack out a 124-120 win in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Rookie Cade Flores registered 21 points and 12 rebounds for the third double-double in his career while Zav Lucero, another rookie, added 18 points.
Former top rookie pick Joshua Munzon, meanwhile, had an all-around stats line of 17 points, six boards, five assists and five steals for NorthPort.
Jeff Chan also scored 17 while Arvin Tolentino flirted with a double-double as he finished with 15 points and nine rebounds in a balanced scoring attack that gave NorthPort its second straight win after opening the conference with a loss.
NorthPort gains a share of third spot with NLEX in the standings behind Blackwater's impeccable 3-0 record.
Jason Perkins led Phoenix with 28 points and seven rebounds, Tyler Tio added 19 points and RJ Jazul chipped in 15 points for the Fuel Masters.