Northport large man JM Calma. –PBA IMAGES
Coach Bonnie Tan is just not discounting the potential for one other NorthPort turnaround after lastly getting a victory within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation Governors’ Cup.
“Don’t take away the truth that we gained 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 Area 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 rely on current historical past displaying they’ve rebounded nicely 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 competition. The workforce, nonetheless, fell wanting extending its marketing campaign after shedding to Phoenix in a playoff for the No. 8 spot.
Tan, who gained 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 because the Commissioner’s Cup attributable to 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 in opposition to his former workforce.
“Now we have to contemplate that Robert Bolick simply bought 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 workforce looking for consistency and perceived contenders on faucet.
Fading possibilities
NorthPort performs Blackwater on Saturday at Sensible Araneta Coliseum adopted by a March 2 assembly with Magnolia on the identical venue.
Rain or Shine shall be subsequent on March 4 at PhilSports earlier than coming back from the All-Star break to conclude the elimination spherical in opposition to 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 massive 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 possibilities persevering with to fade with NLEX and Magnolia slated on March 2 and 4 and Barangay Ginebra on March 8 at Ynares Middle in Antipolo Metropolis.
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