NorthPort makes debut vs Terrafirma

Games today:

(Ninoy Aquino Stadium)

5 p.m. — NorthPort vs Terrafirma

7:30 p.m. — Rain or Shine vs NLEX

After a good run in the previous tournament’s playoffs, Arvin Tolentino and the rest of the NorthPort Batang Pier look forward to a better campaign this time in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

NorthPort debuts against a rebound-seeking Terrafirma to open the double-header feature today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Tipoff time is at 5 p.m. as action in the season-ending all-Filipino tourney resumes following a timeout Friday for the league’s 50th anniversary gala night to honor the 10 additional stars elevated into the PBA 50 Greatest Players.

Meanwhile, Rain or Shine takes on NLEX in its opening assignment in the main game at 7:30 p.m.

Tolentino, who won the Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference award, led the Batang Pier in topping the elimination round with an impressive 9-3 win-loss finish to earn the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

NorthPort eliminated Magnolia in the quarterfinals but was capsized in the semifinals in five games against eventual runner-up Barangay Ginebra.

The Batang Pier will try to use the gains of their last tournament to exact revenge on the Dyip, who eliminated them in a playoff for the last quarterfinals seat in last year’s Philippine Cup.

“Our confidence is there. We are starting to believe that we can play at par with big and established teams. That’s a big boost for us,” Tolentino said.

Backing up the talented forward are Will Navarro, Joshua Munzon, Paolo Taha and rookie Evan Nelle.

Also expected to gain more playing time are big men Abu Tratter and Damie Cuntapay.

“They had limited playing time the last two conferences because we had imports, but this time they have to step up. My staff and I were trying to find ways the last two weeks on how to exploit their talents,” NorthPort head coach Bonnie Tan said.

Terrafirma, on the other hand, is reeling from an 80-118 pounding it received from defending champion Meralco last Sunday for a 1-1 slate.

The Dyip are looking to bring the same fire they had in burning down Phoenix, 95-87, in their opener.

Scoring leaders Louie Sangalang and Stanley Pringle will need a lot of help from the rest of Terrafirma especially veteran guard Terrence Romeo, who was silenced to just nine points last match after dropping 14 in the first game.

Meanwhile, the Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao is confident his wards will continue to improve and are motivated to go beyond the semifinals.

“With the group that we have now, I think we’re right there. I think we can compete. We’ve been in the semifinals three straight times, so every time you get to the semifinals you learn something, you get better,” Guiao said.

Adrian Nocum, Andrei Caracut, Santi Santillan, Jhonard Clarito, Gian Mamuyac and elder statesmen Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood will get their chance to shine in the all-local contest.

But the Road Warriors are no easy customers.

NLEX is raring to get back up after suffering an 89-98 loss to league-leading San Miguel Beer last Saturday.

Robert Bolick, Michael Miranda, Xyrus Torres and Javee Mocon anchor the Road Warriors’ assault.