NORTHPORT has gotten a new lease on life and is not about to let that opportunity go to waste.
Expect the Batang Pier, therefore, to come out with more ferociousness when they face a Blackwater Bossing crew hanging on for dear life Saturday in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
A NorthPort followup to its breakthrough 115-100 win over Terrafirma last week would give the former a 2-6 slate and keep alive its hopes of at least playing off for one of the eight quarterfinals berths.
But that's not all. After the Bossing, the Batang Pier remain in a must-win situation when they take on Magnolia on Thursday, Rain or Shine two days later and TNT on March 15.
NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan prefers to focus on the task at hand. "Isa-isang game lang ang tinitingnan namin," he said.
For good reason, since Blackwater is trying to hang on for dear life.
After splitting its first two games Blackwater has gone on a downward spiral, losing its last seven games and now lying at the bottom of the 12-team heap on a 1-8 slate.
The embers of hope still flicker for coach Ariel Vanguardia, no matter the dire situation his Bossing are in - and with much less chances. "Habang may buhay may pag-asa," he said.
A quick glance at the standings should bear Vanguardia out.
Phoenix Super LPG lies tied with Rain or Shine at eighth, both with a 2-5 record, while 2-6 Terrafirma comes next. Should the Fuel Masters, Elasto Painters and Dyip fail to win more games then either NorthPort or Blackwater could overtake them.
Another scenario is for either NorthPort or Blackwater, should the latter win over the Batang Pier and Magnolia on March 8, could end up in a multi-cornered tie for eighth on a 3-8 slate.
The tiebreakers would then come in, initially via the PBA quotient to determine who would be eliminated, and then a one-game playoff between the two remaining teams. (NC)