NorthPort to boost drive for bonus
‘We need to bounce back’
FRAN Yu and the NorthPort Batang Pier are determined to finally to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Photograph courtesy of PBA
Games today:
(Ynares Center)
5 p.m. -- Phoenix vs Blackwater
7:30 p.m. -- San Miguel vs NorthPort
After two failed tries, NorthPort guns for the coveted twice-to-beat advantage when it battles San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with the Batang Pier gunning for their eighth win that will boost their bid for a playoff incentive and tie them with idle Converge in the second spot of the team standings.
TNT Tropang Giga remains on top with a 6-2 win-loss mark while Meralco and Hong Kong Eastern are tied at the third spot with a 7-3 record.
After winning seven of their first eight games, the Batang Pier crumbled as they bowed to Meralco, 94-111, last Tuesday before losing to Rain or Shine, 107-127, last Thursday to spoil their claim for one of the two quarterfinal incentives.
But beating the Beermen will not be easy as they are also looking to secure a quarterfinal spot and avenge their 93-100 loss to Meralco last Saturday.
In that game, new import Malik Pope hardly made an impact, finishing with only 14 points and nine rebounds for San Miguel, which absorbed its fifth loss in five games and teetered on the brink of missing the playoffs.
When asked about their game plan against the desperate Beermen side, NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan cited the need to bounce back.
“We need to bounce back,” Tan said, wary of San Miguel locals like June Mar Fajardo, who had a monster double-double game of 20 points and 13 rebounds against the Bolts.
NorthPort will back on the efforts of import Kadeem Jack, who erupted for 39 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals against the Elasto Painters, as well as gunners Joshua Munzon and Arvin Tolentino.
Meanwhile, Phoenix Super LPG and Blackwater Bossing will tip things off when they collide in the first game at 5 p.m.
Both the Fuel Masters and the Bossing are struggling with 3-7 and 2-8 marks, respectively, and a win will somehow spark their very little chances of making the playoffs.