Games today:

(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

5 p.m. — NorthPort vs Magnolia

7:30 p.m. — TNT vs Eastern

Determined to prove that its surprise run in the eliminations is no fluke, top-seeded NorthPort seeks to advance to the semifinals against disadvantaged Magnolia.

The twice-to-beat Batang Pier will try to ride the crest of the momentum they built at the end of the previous round to reassert their mastery over the Hotshots in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

NorthPort has no intention of using its hard-earned incentive but acknowledges that beating Magnolia, a survivor of four do-or-die games to catch the last bus ride to the playoffs, is easier said than done.

However, the Batang Pier, hungry to end a six-year Final Four drought, are ready for war.

“We’re ready to face whatever challenge we could encounter during the playoffs,” NorthPort deputy Rensy Bajar said.

With strong Best Player of the Conference contender Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon complementing the all-around game of workhorse reinforcement Kadeem Jack, the Batang Pier dominated the elims with a 9-3 win-loss record.

Proving doubters wrong and shedding accusations of being just a “farm team,” NorthPort made a stunning sweep of all three San Miguel Corporation teams — all perennial title contenders — in dethroned San Miguel Beer, Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia.

The Batang Pier hope to make a repeat of their 107-103 victory over the Hotshots last 4 December to make it to the semis for the first time since the 2019 Governors’ Cup — the only other time the franchise reached that deep in the playoffs in 13 years with the league.

Northport’s other semis appearance was back in the 2015 Philippine Cup under the banner of Globalport.

“The players are ready to play and they’re ready to accept the challenge. Hopefully, we could sustain our momentum into the playoffs,” Bajar said of his squad coming off back-to-back wins.

On the other hand, the Hotshots are smoking hot off four straight wins, including a dominating 112-81 crushing of NLEX in the playoff for the No. 8 spot last Sunday.

The runner-up of last year’s edition aims to take advantage of a “rusty” Batang Pier following a two-week layoff to bring the showdown into a sudden death.

Magnolia coach Chito Victolero remains defiant despite his team being at a disadvantage.

“We’re the underdog in this series. We’re down in this series 0-1. So, it’s another do-or-die situation for us,” Victolero said.

“But I like our chances.”

Magnolia encountered rough patches early in the mid-season conference but turned things around.

The Hotshots rediscovered their vaunted defense, leaving a trail of destruction in their last four games, which they won by an average margin of 25.75 points.

Import Ricardo Ratliffe, who is averaging 26.25 points and 16.08 boards per outing, Zav Lucero, Ian Sangalang, Calvin Abueva, Mark Barroca, a healthier Paul Lee and rookie Jerom Lastimosa are out to keep Magnolia’s title hopes alive.

Meanwhile, No. 2 seed TNT and seventh-ranked Hong Kong Eastern collide in the main game at 7:30 p.m.

The Tropang Giga clinched a twice-to-beat advantage after closing the elims with an 8-4 mark. TNT is tied with Converge and Ginebra but grabbed the second spot via superior quotient. MARK ESCARLOTE

Led by two-time Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, TNT seeks to bounce back from a 96-106 loss to Rain or Shine last Friday and avenge an 84-105 rout it suffered against Eastern in their first meeting.

The guest team is on a two-game slide to end the elims, absorbing a 78-107 blowout against Magnolia and a 76-94 loss to NLEX.