NORTHPORT and defending champion San Miguel Beer show up with coveted goals in their respective drives in the mid-season tourney.
Which team will succeed will be known when the Batang Pier take on the Beermen today in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The match is set for 7:30 p.m. after Blackwater and Phoenix clash in a knockout tiff in the curtain raiser at 5 o’clock.
The Bonnie Tan-mentored NorthPort side is already assured of a spot in the Last Eight but is determined to still make a push and unleash a strong wind up in the eliminations for a top two finish and a win-once incentive in the quarterfinals.
For Tan, his charges’ mission is simple: “Kailangang makabawi.”
The Batang Pier have lost two in a row, counting a 107-127 drubbing at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters last Thursday that sent them to 7-3.
The likes of gunner Arvin Tolentino, import Kadeem Jack, Joshua Munzon, William Navarro, and Fran Yu will be counted upon anew to deliver for NorhPort.
With a 4-5 mark, SMB is hard-pressed to atoned for a 93-100 loss to Meralco last Saturday in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
Reinforcement Malik Pope will combine with local stars led by reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Juami Tiongson, Don Trollano, and Andreas Cahilig.
So far, four teams have put a lock on quarterfinal berths—Converge (8-3), Meralco (7-3), NorthPort (7-3) and foreign guest team Hong Kong Eastern (7-3) –with pacesetting TNT (6-2), Rain or Shine (6-3) and Ginebra (6-4) within a victory from the playoffs.
The Bossing fell 109-127 to the FiberXers last Sunday and will bank on import George King, Jaydee Tungcab, Justin Chua, and Christian David to improve their lowly 2-8 slate.
Slightly better with a 3-7 card, the Fuel Masters absorbed a 94-108 whipping to the Road Warriors also last Sunday.
Reinforcement Donovan Smith, Jason Perkins, Ricci Rivero, Tyler Tio, and veterans RR Garcia and RJ Jazul are expected to rise for Phoenix.
