Still doubting Batang Pier?

- Advertisement -

NORTHPORT tasted the winning feeling anew at the expense of defending champion San Miguel Beer in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup last Sunday night.

The fact that the Batang Pier did it the hard way—a 105-104 decision over the Beermen—made it sweeter.

“Laging ipinapaalala naming coaches, especially si coach Bonnie (Tan), during crunch time and the fourth quarter, San Miguel is San Miguel. They are a champion team. They will come back anytime, and their players, mag-step up anytime,” NorthPort assistant tactician Rensy Bajar, who spoke instead of Tan, said. “Buti nag-stick lang kami sa game plan. We just play hard defense, especially (at) crunch time.

- Advertisement -

“Iyon na nga, nakahabol sila because iyong mga turnovers namin down the stretch. Pero naka-recover kami sa last possessions namin,” he added.

Star gunner Arvin Tolentino echoed Bajar’s thoughts as the Batang Pier completed a sweep of all San Miguel Corporation teams in the mid-season tilt.

“You guys know na San Miguel is a champion team, mayroon silang eight-time MVP, CJ Perez, ang dami nilang veteran players,” Tolentino said.

“Kaya hindi naging madali sa amin even though we were up by 24. Nahabol pa rin nila. This is a contender talaga. They have experience, champion team. Credit to SMB also.”

The triumph that saw Tan’s wards squander a 24-point lead enabled them to atone for a 107-127 rout at the hands of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Thursday last week and rise to 8-3 and bolster their bid for a top-two finish that will be rewarded with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

SMB absorbed its second loss in a row, counting a 93-100 defeat to Meralco In Candon City, Ilocos Sur last Saturday for a 4-6 slate in a tie with Magnolia and NLEX.

Import Kadeem Jack sank the go-ahead jumper in the last 16.7 seconds to go and showed the way for NorthPort with 38 points and seven rebounds while Tolentino added 22 markers.

William Navarro and Joshua Munzon also had 17 and 12 points, respectively, for the Batang Pier.

“I guess everyone, naniwala lang sa isa’t isa. Since the start of the conference, iyon ang naging puhunan namin, believe na we can do it if we can stick together. Nakita naman natin how we played the game,” Tolentino said. “Whenever we don’t share the ball, medyo low ang energy, doon kami natatalo.

“But every time we play together as a team, enjoying the game, and believing that we can win, doon tumataas iyong morale ng team like what happened.”

Listen to Bajar as NorthPort warms up for the playoffs.

“Itong team na ito is just making a statement na we are real. Itong mga players na ito, they will play 100 percent each game,” he said. “Even in the playoffs, kung sino man makaharap namin, we will just play our game.”

Author

- Advertisement -

Share post: