After a bleak Governors’ Cup start, Batang Pier find optimism in breakthrough win

Coach Bonnie Tan is not downplaying NorthPort’s comeback chances after finally winning the Philippine Basketball Association Governor’s Cup.

“Don’t take away the fact that we won three straight games in the bubble,” said Tan in Filipino after Batang Pier’s 115-100 win over skidding Terrafirma Dyip on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

It was NorthPort’s breakthrough late-season conference win after an 0-6 start. As dismal as the campaign was, they can count on recent history to show that they have recovered well from early struggles.

The record Tan mentioned was during the 2021 Philippine Cup, when the team’s manager had to take over from Pido Jarencio who was infected with COVID, producing three straight wins after a 1-4 start. That catapulted NorthPort to the quarterfinals.

Five straight wins

NorthPort lost its first five games to open the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup, but won five in a row to enter the quarterfinals. However, the team did not extend the campaign after losing to Phoenix in the playoffs for the 8th place.

Tan, who won for the first time since switching roles with Jarencio, hopes to plot a drastic rise once again, especially with Robert Bolick slowly returning to his rhythm and Arwind Santos returning after leaving the Commissioner’s Cup due to a knee injury.

And if rookie center JM Calma, who chipped in with 18 points and nine rebounds, plays consistently and Joshua Munzon finds a rhythm on offense and becomes a reliable second option, NorthPort could make another run late.

Munzon finished with 17 points Wednesday night against his former team.

“We have to consider that Robert Bolick is back and this is only his third game and Arwind Santos is playing his first game,” Tan said.

“I think if we give it a little time, we will be more competitive in the next game,” added Tan, whose preliminary round schedule has bait, a team looking for consistency and a perceived contender.

Possibility of fading

NorthPort plays Blackwater on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum followed by a March 2 meeting with Magnolia at the same venue.

Rain or Shine will be next on March 4 at PhilSports before returning from the All-Star break to complete the elimination round against TNT on March 15, also in Pasig.

Import Kevin Murphy led NorthPort with 28 points while Bolick, whose conference begins with contract extension negotiations set to take place before the settlement is finalized, had 26 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals.

The fourth straight loss drops Terrafirma to 2-6, its playoff chances continuing to fade with NLEX and Magnolia scheduled for March 2 and 4 and Barangay Ginebra on March 8 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

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