GETTING back on track while resuming their drive to the playoffs would be foremost in the minds of both NorthPort and Rain or Shine when they face off Thursday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena.
The Batang Pier want to bounce back from a sorry 94-101 loss to Meralco and jack their current 7-2 record against the 5-3 Elasto Painters, who have hardly recovered from back-to-back losses that was capped by a very disappointing one also just last Tuesday.
A win by NorthPort would boost its immediate goal of landing a spot among the top four in the eight-team quarterfinals while Rain or Shine has its own overriding agenda of moving closer to a playoff spot.
It should be a matter of which team has made the necessary adjustments in so short a time.
NorthPort saw its erstwhile top-rated offense stymied by Meralco's success in preventing the Batang Pier from gaining any real offensive rhythm.
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Whether it is due to the Bolts using most of their 32 fouls to either avert baskets or to head off the Batang Pier's plays, the end result saw the latter failing to hit the century mark for the first time in the mid-season tilt.
Failing to find any real touch from beyond the arc also deeply hurt NorthPort as it missed its first 11 tries before eventually winding up with just a 3-of-16 clip from 3s that highlighted its sorry 28-of-70 total from the field.
For sure, the likes of Arvin Tolentino, Joshua Munzon and William Navarro would also try to provide more support to Kadeem Jack this time around.
Against the Bolts Jack fell just short of his tournament average with 29 points on top of 14 boards while Tolentino had 19 points but shot just 4-of-11 from the field. Munzon notched 12 points but went 3-of-10 from the field while committing five of the Batang Pier's 14 turnovers.
NorthPort's defense would also be surely tested since Rain or Shine is bristling to rebound from a 96-103 loss to Converge after coach Yeng Guiao's charges blew an early 23-6 lead and even found themselves trailing by as much as 85-98.
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Deon Marshall wound up with 22 points and as many rebounds and Jhonard Clarito led all scorers with 24 points but the E-Painters finished with just a 36.95 clip from the field while failing to match the FiberXers' more balanced offense and grittier defense. (NC)
