ONE doesn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out what ails NorthPort in the PBA Governors Cup.
First, the Batang Pier have to make do without top players Stanley Pringle and Sean Anthony in their first three games.
When the two finally saw action - and against all expectations - the team continued to struggle, losing what looked to be won games in its last two outings.
"We're always up, but we can't close it down the stretch," said Anthony of those two heart-wrenching losses.
All it takes, everybody in the Mikee Romero-owned franchise agree, is one win for it to snap out of its rut and catch one of the last tickets to the eight-team quarterfinals.
Sponsored content: That should come when Northport tangles with fellow struggler Columbian in the Petron Saturday Special as the season-ending tourney returns to the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
The Dyip remain winless after seven tries, leaving new head coach Johnedel Cardel simply imploring his players to come up with just one W in their last four elimination round games.
"Meron pa namang four games, hopefully I can win kahit isa or at most dalawa para naman matanggalan naman ako ng tinik. Ang hirap, e," said Cardel, who spoke following a 95-113 beatdown from Magnolia Ang Pambansang Manok last Wednesday.
For Cardel, named to replace the resigned Ricky Dandan just before the last Commissioner's Cup ended, being one of the former assistants in the team originally known as GlobalPort also adds meaning to Saturday's game.
"Sabi ko sa mga boys kanina pagkatalo, baka puwede ninyo ibigay sa akin 'yung panalo sa Saturday kasi that's my former team," related Cardel.
Sponsored content: If NorthPort has learned its lessons from its last two losses, Cardel will have to look for that breakthrough win elsewhere.
The Batang Pier are coming off a sorry 102-104 loss to TNT last Sunday, when they failed to hang on to as much as a 23-point lead.
That meltdown was eerily similar to NorthPort's game against Blackwater 11 days earlier, when the Batang Pier saw their 18-point spread razed by the Elite en route to a 113-111 win.
"I think we need to learn how to close out games," offered Anthony.
That is one observation no one would disagree with. (NC)
