NorthPort Batang Pier’s keys to success in the Commissioner's Cup

The NorthPort Batang Pier is currently leading the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup with a 7-1 win-loss record in the team standings.

In recent years, NorthPort is usually seen at the bottom of the standings, or sometimes they started right but broke down in the middle of the fight.

But this team, the Batang Pier, showed that they were for real.

In their recent win, even the PBA's winningest coach, Tim Cone, admitted that. 

“NorthPort is for real. They played really well,” said Cone after his Barangay Ginebra squad was beaten by NorthPort.

“They gave our defense fits all game. And just that, they are for real. We had problems stopping them. Munzon and Arvin [they] are both playing at an MVP level, and their import is a great fit,” he added.

With the victory against the Gin Kings, the Batang Pier might be assured of a playoff spot already.

Northport began their winning journey since they signed up Kadeem Jack as their import for the mid-season conference. 

They started with a drubbing triumph against the NLEX Road Warriors, followed up by another double-digit win against the Terrafirma Dyip, then defeated the Magnolia Hotshots, TNT Tropang Giga, and Converge FiberXers in close victories.

They fell once against the then-winless Phoenix Fuel Masters before climbing back on top against the guest team, Hong Kong Eastern, and finally a statement win versus Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings, where they broke a 14-game slump against them.

So what are the other keys to victory besides their reinforcement Jack, who averaged more than 30 points per game with high field goal shooting of more than 60 percent inside the paint.

The other keys were the performances of Arvin Tolentino and Joshua Munzon.

Tolentino is playing like an MVP and is even the league-leading local in terms of scoring with an average of 24.7 points per game. He also averages 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.1 blocks. 

Meanwhile, Munzon has finally unleashed his potential as he might be awarded as the Most Improved Player at the end of the season if he is consistent in what he is doing.

In their last game, Munzon contributed 27 markers, six dimes, two boards, and two deflections to be named as the Best Player of the Game.

They also have a good supporting cast with William Navarro, Fran Yu, Evan Nelle, Sidney Onwubere, Allyn Bulanadi, Abu Tratter, Damie Cuntapay, Cade Flores and Jio Jalalon.

One more important key is Coach Bonnie Tan.

Tan has had a roller-coaster ride since he started coaching NorthPort, but he never surrendered, took risks, and even gave second chances to his players, who now have good chemistry, which is also another key to victory.

In their last game, Tan said that he challenged the squad, and they responded with a statement win.

"We challenged our players in tonight's game, it's a statement game for us," said Tan about their victory against the Gin Kings. "Everyone is questioning our status because we don't win against big teams."

The Batang Pier can finally prove their worth if they finish their last four games with statement victories.

Their next assignments will be the Meralco Bolts on January 14, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on January 16, the mighty San Miguel Beermen on January 21, and lastly the Blackwater Bossing on January 25.

If NorthPort continues with their winning ways, entering the Final Four or even the championship round, then all of us can say that the Batang Pier is for real.