Editor's note: This is the first of four parts where we put the spotlight on each of the semifinalists of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup.
WILLIAM Navarro felt slighted with how people aren’t really talking about NorthPort despite ending the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations as the top seed by beating the who’s who of PBA powerhouses.
That’s a fair grievance. Aside from being the outright best team in the league this conference, they’re one of the most fun teams to watch with the pace that they play at and the talent at their disposal.
READ: William Navarro wants to achieve more with 'underdog' NorthPort
But on the flipside, one can’t truly fault the fans anymore for casting doubt on the trajectory of this team right now – even after their historic elimination-round run and early playoff success.
The good news is that Navarro and Co. will have the perfect chance to finally eradicate that long planted ‘farm team’ stigma, by winning four in a seven-game series against Barangay Ginebra when the semifinals kicks off on February 26.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at this Batang Pier team and how it stacks up to the crowd favorites in this seven-game affair.
What makes this team dangerous?
Defined roles, a plethora of weapons and the perfect reinforcement have turned NorthPort into the meanest offensive machine in the PBA today.
Let’s get this out of the way. Arvin Tolentino is the most lethal perimeter scorer in the league today, and should be in line to take his first Best Player of the Conference award. He also got the perfect guys surrounding him to make sure he gets a deep run this time.
Joshua Munzon is having the best conference of his PBA career, shining on both ends of the floor while Kadeem Jack totally fills the hole that the Batang Pier have in the middle.
This triumvirate, averaging a combined 73 points per game among them, is good enough to carry the offense even against the best teams in the league – and their league best 109.6 points per game is a testament to that.
But their success isn't only hinged on the three players above. I’ve always been high on Navarro especially with his ability to defend multiple positions and seamlessly fit into any offense, whether it be moving without the ball, spotting up for open looks, and getting a bucket off second chances.
They’ve missed their most experienced guard in Jio Jalalon for all but one game this conference, but collegiate champion guards in Fran Yu and Evan Nelle have been truly up to the task in orchestrating the Batang Pier offense.
READ: Cone, Brownlee wary of in-form NorthPort ahead of semis clash
Then you have coach Bonnie Tan who I think doesn't get enough credit for this run. Similar to his three-peat run at Letran, the players have totally bought into what Tan and the coaching staff want to do and that's totally crucial to any team with championship aspirations.
The fact that they have defined roles, with players willing to sacrifice and do the dirty job, is a testament to how Tan's been able to get his team marching to the beat of his drum.
Pedal to the metal
Despite being the league’s highest-scoring team, it’s surprising to see that NorthPort is a below average three-point shooting team. Making just 88 threes in 12 games – the second least in the league – while sitting in the middle of the pack when it comes to percentages, the three-ball hasn’t been the weapon of choice for the Batang Pier.
It’s their pace that has given teams nightmares all conference long.
The Batang Pier would run with every chance they’ll get. They lead the league in fastbreak points, points off turnovers and steals.
The backcourt pairing of Munzon and Yu have been so good in getting deflections, forcing turnovers and quickly initiating their primary offense on the break.
With a fairly young line-up that seemingly has the gas tank to run their opponents to the ground, it’s tough stopping the Batang Pier when they get their running game going.
But the job’s not done once you get to stop their primaries. In the half court, Tolentino and Jack’s two-man game is a handful for any team and it’s virtually impossible to defend them without fouling.
Tolentino’s the best among locals at getting to the free throw line, having 117 attempts this season and making the most of it by hitting 80.3 percent of his shots.
In fact, there are only two players in the league who had more foul shots than Tolentino – TNT’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson at second with 130… and his teammate in Jack with 133 total attempts.
As a team, the Batang Pier get 32 points per game from the foul line alone. That speaks a lot on the aggression and the pace that they play at.
The good news is…
Their style, and the current situation of their opponent in Ginebra, seems like the perfect time for the Batang Pier to strike.
Their relentless pace could serve as the perfect foil to Tim Cone’s short rotation, as it’s certainly going to be tough to keep up with NorthPort’s run-and-gun style with an eight- to nine-man rotation.
Then you factor in fatigue for Ginebra.
While NorthPort prepares for the semis, the core of their counterparts in Cone, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar and Troy Rosario will be going through a busy February with Gilas Pilipinas starting with their training camp in Qatar, and the final two games of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Taipei and Auckland.
There’s no better time for the Batang Pier to make their run for the finals than by taking advantage of their strengths and making the most of the situation that they are in right now.
The player that will get NorthPort over the top is..
William Navarro himself. The same guy who said that they’re the underdogs despite being the top seed. The guy that said they’re playing with chips on their shoulders because they don’t get talked about much.
Arvin, Joshua and Kadeem will get their numbers. But Navarro’s role in this series will be invaluable for NorthPort.
Being NorhtPort’s most versatile defender, he’ll get a buttload of minutes on Justin Brownlee, and on the times that he won’t be facing the brilliant import, he’ll certainly be banging bodies with Troy Rosario or looking to ground Jamie Malonzo.
If he can also come out as a consistent offensive threat to back the trio’s scoring? Don’t be surprised if NorthPort gets its first PBA championship appearance in franchise history in one of the most impressive runs for an ‘independent’ club.
Making the championship while eliminating Magnolia, and then Barangay Ginebra on the way there? That would certainly get people talking, William.
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