COMING up with their best game is the common goal of NorthPort and Blackwater in their Saturday match that closes out their elimination round assignments in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
At stake for the Batang Pier, should they notch a second straight win and emerge with a 9-3 record, is a clear shot at a top two finish and a twice-to-beat advantage over a lower-ranked team in the ensuing quarterfinals.
For their part, the Bossing are also gunning for a fitting follow-up to their recent stirring win and finish the 12-game elims with a 4-8 slate and inclusion in the looming possible multiple ties for the eighth and last quarterfinals slot.
Should 4-6 teams San Miguel Beer, which faces Converge Friday evening, NLEX and Magnolia prevail in at least one of their two remaining matches, then Blackwater would be eliminated from the race.
Regardless, coach Jeffrey Cariaso said his team would still go all-out to make the most out of its situation.
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"If there's still a slight window then we're gonna do our part-do our best to do our part-and prepare," said Cariaso following a 100-92 shocker his all-Filipino side pulled off against Phoenix last Tuesday.
"If we don't have a window and it's closed out already, you can only expect the guys to come out the way they did tonight," added Cariaso. "Just going out with a bang, ending the conference on a good note. Regardless of what happens we're gonna go out and play hard."
NorthPort has the same go all-out attitude, according to coach Bonnie Tan. "We're aiming for a strong finish sa final game. Kahit secured na sa quarters sana going to the playoffs on a winning note," he said on the eve of the match.
"Dapat mindset namin, being a young team, is to win as many as we can and then madala namin iyun sa playoffs," added Tan before revealing the challenge he has hurled at his players even before they fashioned a 105-104 decision over SMB also last Tuesday.
"Pinapili ko sila sa last two games namin," related Tan. "Sabi ko, if we lost our last games, p'wedeng bumaba kami as low as eighth. 'Pagka ipinanalo n'yo 'yung dalawa, ang laki chance na maka-twice-to-beat advantage tayo.'
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"Kaya ang sabi ko pa: 'Bakit n'yo pa ipinanalo San Miguel (game) kung ayaw n'yo pala ng twice-to-beat?'"
Being on its toes, getting off to a strong start and sustaining it for 48 minutes remain NorthPort's basic gameplan since Blackwater import George King is expected to see action anew after sitting out the Phoenix game due to a hurting ankle. (NC)
