Such was the statement the NorthPort Batang Pier conveyed after a rousing win against the Ginebra Gin Kings in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
In its biggest test yet, NorthPort passed with flying colors.
That was why Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan could not help but be proud as his team survived Ginebra, 119-116, in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
"'Yung tonight’s game is a statement game for us,” said Tan, whose team stayed atop the heap with its impressive 7-1 record.
Though NorthPort rolled to a fiery 5-0 start to the conference, there were doubts about whether or not the squad was for real.
Tan is hopeful his Batang Pier's rousing triumph against the Gin Kings — which saw NorthPort’s top local player Arvin Tolentino sit out the last two minutes because of six fouls — would finally quash doubts.
“Everyone’s questioning about 'yung status ng team, na 'di kami nananalo sa big teams. I hope with this win, we proved na we’re here to win games,” said Tan.
“We’re here to be competitive. Hindi 'yung basta-bastang nandito lang.”
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At the center of the team’s success is the formidable trio of import Kadeem Jack and local aces Tolentino and Joshua Munzon.
Munzon was hailed Player of the Game after churning out 27 points, two rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Jack delivered 32 big points, including the split from the foul line with a little over a second left to play. He also had 16 rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Before his exit, Tolentino impressed with 29 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the three-point range, the last of which stretched NorthPort's advantage to 114-105.
In true Ginebra fashion, the crowd darlings crawled back from that deficit and got to within a whisker, 116-117, when Justin Brownlee went 2-for-3 from the foul line.
Brownlee would try to turn things around as he drove from the left elbow with the time winding down.
Unfortunately, the beloved naturalized Filipino slipped on his way to the basket.
Brownlee finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and a block as the Gin Kings dropped to 5-3.
Scottie Thompson, RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario — heroes of Ginebra’s last two games — contributed 17 points apiece.
The Scores:
NORTHPORT 119 – Jack 32, Tolentino 29, Munzon 27, Flores 9, Navarro 8, Bulanadi 5, Onwubere 4, Cuntapay 3, Yu 2, Nelle 0, Jalalon 0.
GINEBRA 116 – Brownlee 23, Thompson 17, Rosario 17, Abarrientos 17, Ahanmisi 12, Holt 11, Cu 9, J.Aguilar 8, Tenorio 2.
Quarterscores: 31-27, 67-58, 98-87, 119-116