NORTHPORT aims to follow up on a big win and remain on track for another modest goal when it tangles with a Meralco crew wanting to realize its own agenda Tuesday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Buoyed even more to new heights after ending a five-year losing spell to Barangay Ginebra last week, the tournament-leading Batang Pier want to improve their current 7-1 record after their 5 p.m. faceoff with the 5-3 Bolts.
Actually, NorthPort has already put a lock on one of the eight quarterfinals berth and another win will push it closer to a Top Two finish and its twice-to-beat reward in the quarterfinals.
Coach Bonnie Tan has bared that his staff and NorthPort management are trying to ease the pressure by setting their sights a bit lower and that is to just land a spot somewhere in the middle of the qualifiers to the next round.
"Before the tournament our goal was to get to the quarterfinals. Ngayon we're discussing also na to lessen the pressure... our target is to get to the best-of-three. Para kung hindi namin ma-achieve 'yung top (two) positions at least we're in the middle man lang," related Tan.
Sponsored content: It should be a dogfight of a game since Meralco itself is also on Cloud Nine after notching a 105-91 conquest of NLEX also last week and now wants to fan its own hopes of making it past the 12-game eliminations.
Bolts coach Luigi Trillo admitted his team is in for a long game. "NorthPort's playing well," he explained.
"They've found their rhythm, their import seems like a good fit, he brings a lot to the table. I think they've found good rhythm," added Trillo.
"They're pretty solid all-around. Maganda inilalaro nila. I'm pleased with the way we played defense (versus NLEX), we need to follow it up again. It's gonna be tough because they (Batang Pier) have points of attack din."
More than game, Tan believes his players now have more belief in themselves following the Ginebra game in which they almost blew as much as an 18-point lead but still held on.
Sponsored content: "It's a statement game for us," said Tan. "Everyone's been questioning 'yung status ng team since hindi kami nananalo sa mga big teams. So I hope that with this win we proved na we're here to win games... to be competitive, na hindi basta-bastang team lang."
Meralco's "D" indeed should be severely tested anew in trying to stymie a NorthPort squad led by Arvin Tolentino, Kadeem Jack and Joshua Munzon while containing the likes of Akil Mitchell, Bong Quinto and Chris Newsome would be the Batang Pier's main concern. (NC)
