JOHNEDEL Cardel sees a competitive NorthPort squad – or whatever brand it will carry – come the PBA 50th Season, even though the team is on rebuilding mode, after taking over the head coaching duties with the Batang Pier.
Cardel is optimistic about the Batang Pier, a team in transition with the franchise set to be taken over by Pureblends Corporation through a sale, although it is still pending approval by the PBA board of governors.
Prior to the upcoming sale, NorthPort lost its star player Arvin Tolentino after signing with the Seoul SK Knights in the Korea Basketball League, leaving the Batang Pier back to being cellar dweller, missing the playoffs in the Philippine Cup after a successful Commissioner’s Cup where they reached the semifinals.
Though NorthPort is on rebuild, Cardel believes it has enough pieces to contend for at least a playoff spot with the likes of Joshua Munzon, Cade Flores, and Calvin Abueva.
“This is a rebuilding team. But with the new players and the veterans, Calvin, Josh, Cade, then we got ‘yung mga malalaki, (Mario) Barasi, (Jeo) Ambohot, medyo may laman tayo ngayon," he said.
“Siyempre, I told the big boss na konting pasensya for this conference. But I think we have a chance kasi this is all-Filipino, everybody, every team, merong chance kapag all-Filipino,” he added.
READ: NorthPort wipes out 19-point Phoenix lead to force draw in tuneup
So far, so good for NorthPort under Cardel’s mentorship that is currently in its second week.
NorthPort won its first tune-up game under Cardel last week against NLEX, and drew with Phoenix but not before coming back from a 19-point deficit at the end of the third quarter.
“This is a competitive team. How we handled lang para maging isang team sila, wag kanya kanya, we have to play as a team especially on defense. ‘Yung opensa, may malas diyan eh," he said.
"Example ko si Calvin, how many years na siya playing in the PBA, he plays defense, hustle, at tapang. ‘Yun dapat sa PBA. Kailangan maging matapang kayo. Kahit guwapo kayo, kailangang makipagpalitan kayo ng mukha para maging long term kayo sa PBA."
Glad to be back
Cardel is glad to be back coaching in the PBA after he was replaced by Raymond Tiongco last October at Terrafirma following a six-year reign with the Dyip.
Incidentally, Cardel and Tiongco are back together with Tiongco part of the Batang Pier coaching staff that also includes Rensy Bajar. Raymond Valenzona, and former PBA player Lester Alvarez.
But the 55-year-old Cardel said he is also sad that he got the job after his mother passed away earlier this month.
“I’m blessed na nakabalik tayo dito. Sa dami ng coach na puwede, nag-trabaho si Lord. Kamamatay lang ng nanay ko. Kung buhay siya, happy siya. Tumulong siya rito. Coaching in the PBA, very tough ito,” said Cardel.
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