NORTHPORT wrapped up its preparation for Game One of the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against Barangay Ginebra knowing it faces a daunting task despite securing the No. 1 seed.
Nevertheless, the Batang Pier are hoping to gain every advantage they can get against a formidable Gin Kings side, whose coach and key players are coming off a taxing overseas campaign with Gilas Pilipinas.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone, deputies Richard Del Rosario and Patrick Partosa, and players Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, and Troy Rosario rejoined Ginebra following a Fiba window that saw Gilas play three friendlies against Qatar, Lebanon, and Egypt in Doha, and two FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers against Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, both on the road.
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NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan hopes that his team would take advantage of Gilas’ hectic schedule, at least for Game One.
“Sana ma-take advantage namin kung talagang magiging factor ‘yun. Sana, mangyari nga bukas,” Tan told SPIN.ph after the Batang Pier wrapped up their final practice on the eve of Game One of the best-of-seven semifinal at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
With the help of star Arvin Tolentino, import Kadeem Jack, and Joshua Munzon, NorthPort won in its elimination-round match against Ginebra, 119-116, last January 8, ending a 14-game losing streak to the Gin Kings that included a best-of-five semifinal series in the 2019 Governors’ Cup that it lost via sweep.
Their win against Ginebra was one of the big victories that NorthPort pulled off on their way to a 9-3 win-loss record in the elimination round, and a quarterfinal victory against twice-to-win Magnolia.
However, Tan recognizes that Ginebra’s experience in playoff games will be an advantage that the Gin Kings, tired or not, can bank on.
In contrast, Arvin Tolentino and Paolo Taha are the only NorthPort players who have experienced going this deep in the playoffs, ironically while still with Ginebra.
Tolentino won two championships with the Gin Kings in the 2020 Philippine Cup bubble and the 2021 Governors’ Cup, while Taha was a member of the 2017 Governors’ Cup title-winning team of the Gin Kings.
“In terms of preparation, talagang we prepared ‘yung best na puwede namin gawin, ginawa namin although we’re (facing) an experienced team going to the semis. Ilan lang sa amin, si Arvin and Paolo Taha ang nakapaglaro sa semis and finals before. Lahat kami, inexperienced from coaches to players," said Tan.
“This is the first time we will experience the best-of-seven. The mindset lang ng team is we will take it one game at a time. Let’s not talk about Game 2 or 3. Game 1 lang ‘yung pag-usapan natin na we want to get that first win bukas,” said Tan.
The Batang Pier will play Game 1 exactly 20 days after they wrapped up their quarterfinal series with a 113-110 victory over Magnolia.
Long break can work both ways for NorthPort
Tolentino and Munzon said the long break can work both ways for NorthPort, with Ginebra having played meaningful games with Gilas and the Batang Pier playing zero competitive games over the last three weeks.
“Ready na kami. Medyo mataas na rin ‘yung morale namin, ‘yung confidence nandoon,” said Tolentino, a favorite to win the Best Player of the Conference award. “Medyo mahaba rin ‘yung preparation namin so it’s either an advantage or disadvantage.
“It’s either momentum for the guys who played. Siyempre ‘yung fatigue factor din ‘yun, kasi biyahe pa sila ng Taiwan tapos New Zealand, then balik dito. But hindi naman kami masyado naka-focus doon.
"We’re focusing on kung ano ginagawa namin as a team and whatever ‘yung preparation ng Ginebra, it’s them. Hindi namin tinitignan na pagod sila. We are expecting them na 100 percent sila.”
Munzon said: “I think it’s a good thing that we got these two weeks. Everybody had time to get healthy and get their bodies right. But at the same time, it might have taken away from our rhythm a little bit, and just that long layoff overall.
"We’ll see. We’ve been trying to stay active, have scrimmages and try and keep our rhythm. But I think everybody here is pretty confident. I think we just have to go out there and execute.
“They just got off a flight, but they also just played games too. And they’ve had five games over the past two weeks, and we’ve had zero games over the past two weeks. And [Justin] Brownlee had one of those games. He had like 40 points or something like that (39 against Chinese Taipei).
"That’s what I’m saying. I think Brownlee found his rhythm over the two weeks, so I think that’s gonna be the toughest thing is matching them and matching what they're gonna be doing," said Munzon, whose defense is a major factor in NorthPort's rise.
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