NORTHPORT coach Pido Jarencio is happy with the trade that allowed the Batang Pier to pick up Russell Escoto and Jerramy King from Columbian.
Jarencio said the Batang Pier were able to deepen their bench with the acquisition of Escoto and King, who were tabbed from the Dyip in exchange for Juami Tiongson, Lervin Flores and Joseph Gabayni.
Over the past conferences, the Batang Pier were mostly playing with a short rotation, which cost them when they played San Miguel in the quarterfinals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup this year.
The Batang Pier lost despite being the second seed at the end of the eliminations.
“Kahit papaano, meron na tayong mabubunot sa bench. Kailangan lang makakuha ng kumpiyansa,” said Jarencio.
Escoto and King immediately made an impact for NorthPort in its first tuneup game for the Governors’ Cup as they scored 14 and nine points, respectively, for the Batang Pier against Alaska.
Their numbers were way more than their averages in the Commissioner’s Cup with Escoto averaging 3.6 points and King, who only played four games due to a PCL injury that sidelined him for five months, with 1.5.
The tune-up match was a perfect opportunity for Escoto and King to get accustomed to the NorthPort system under game situations with several players not suiting up due to injuries. Sean Anthony, Paolo Taha, and Bradwyn Guinto didn’t play due to injuries, while Robert Bolick rested in the tune-up game against Alaska.
“May mga injuries pero sakto tayo in time for the opening kasi nagrerecover na lahat,” said Jarencio.
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