Northport huge man JM Calma. –PBA IMAGES
Coach Bonnie Tan just isn’t discounting the potential of one other NorthPort turnaround after lastly getting a victory within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation Governors’ Cup.
“Don’t take away the truth that we received three straight video games within the bubble,” Tan mentioned in Filipino following the Batang Pier’s 115-100 win over the skidding Terrafirma Dyip on Wednesday at PhilSports Enviornment in Pasig Metropolis.
It was NorthPort’s breakthrough win within the season-ending convention after a 0-6 begin. As bleak as their marketing campaign has been, they will depend on current historical past displaying they’ve rebounded properly from early struggles.
The streak Tan talked about was throughout the 2021 Philippine Cup, when the then-team supervisor needed to take over the chores from the COVID-stricken Pido Jarencio, leading to three straight victories after a 1-4 begin. That catapulted NorthPort to a quarterfinals berth.
5 straight wins
NorthPort misplaced its first 5 video games to open the 2021-22 Governors’ Cup, however went on to win 5 in a row to climb into quarterfinal rivalry. The crew, nevertheless, fell wanting extending its marketing campaign after shedding to Phoenix in a playoff for the No. 8 spot.
Tan, who received for the primary time since switching roles with Jarencio, hopes to plot a drastic climb as soon as extra, particularly with Robert Bolick slowly getting his rhythm again and Arwind Santos returning after being out for the reason that Commissioner’s Cup on account of a knee harm.
And if rookie heart JM Calma, who stepped up with 18 factors and 9 rebounds, performs constant and Joshua Munzon finds his rhythm on offense and turns into a dependable second choice, NorthPort may certainly make one other late run.
Munzon completed with 17 factors Wednesday night time towards his former crew.
“We have now to think about that Robert Bolick simply obtained again and that is solely his third recreation and Arwind Santos performed his first recreation,” Tan mentioned.
“I feel if given little time, we shall be extra aggressive in our subsequent video games,” added Tan, whose remaining elimination spherical schedule has a bottomfeeder, a crew trying to find consistency and perceived contenders on faucet.
Fading probabilities
NorthPort performs Blackwater on Saturday at Good Araneta Coliseum adopted by a March 2 assembly with Magnolia on the similar venue.
Rain or Shine shall be subsequent on March 4 at PhilSports earlier than getting back from the All-Star break to conclude the elimination spherical towards TNT on March 15, additionally within the Pasig venue.
Import Kevin Murphy led NorthPort with 28 factors whereas Bolick, whose convention started with negotiations of a contract extension looming giant earlier than a settlement was reached, had 26 factors, 9 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
A fourth straight defeat despatched Terrafirma to 2-6, its playoff probabilities persevering with to fade with NLEX and Magnolia slated on March 2 and 4 and Barangay Ginebra on March 8 at Ynares Heart in Antipolo Metropolis.
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