A GAME that was supposed to be offered for injured teammate JM Calma turned out to be a disaster for Northport.
The Batang Pier couldn’t overcome a flat start and paid dearly for it in a 115-105 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Wednesday night in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ At a time when career is on the rise, JM Calma suffers an ACL injury
Coach Bonnie Tan felt bad over the team’s third straight loss in eighth outings as it came on the day Northport announced the 6-foot-6 Calma suffered an ACL injury and will be out for the next 10 to 12 months.
“We’re dedicating the game to JM sabay ganito yung nilaro namin,” said Tan following the game. “Hindi naman namatay si JM, na-injured lang.”
Tan disclosed Calma’s health status before the game started, three days after hurting his knee while trying to guard Christian Standhardinger at the post during the Batang Pier’s game against the Barangay Ginebra Kings.
The former San Sebastian star played for only four minutes and never returned to the game as he left early to have his knee checked.
And in their first game without the sophomore big man, who averaged 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this conference, the Batang Pier couldn’t get their game going from the onset and fell behind, 12-0.
Northport eventually trailed by as many as 40-18 in the second quarter.
“Ang layo ng hinabol. Inabot as high as 22 points yung hinabol namin. Bumaba ng five or six (points), pero hindi ma-sustain, e,” said Tan.
Rookie Zavier Lucero scored a career-high 29 points while Allyn Bulanadi posted a career-best 26, although main man Arvin Tolentino was held to just 11 points and Joshua Munzon to only five.
The two averaged 21.9 and 12.1 points, respectively, prior to the game.
Northport on a free fall
Tan actually is at a loss on what suddenly hit Northport.
After a sizzling start that had the Batang Pier earlier contending for a top two spot in the playoffs, suddenly the team appears losing steam and has now skidded to solo seventh place with an even 4-4 record.
The sudden turnaround left Tan clueless.
“Hindi ko alam ano nangyari sa team, parang kulang kami sa energy. Hindi ko alam kung relaxed sila or pagod lang,” he said.
The Batang Pier will have three days to think things over before going up against league-leaders San Miguel Beermen in their next game on Sunday at the Philsports Arena.
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