NorthPort may be one of the youngest teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), but its up-and-coming stars are more than ready to compete against the more established and veteran-laden squads.
With more than half of their roster playing in their rookie, sophomore or junior years, the Batang Pier are teeming with young talents raring to make a mark in the league.
It’s no wonder NorthPort is enjoying a hot streak in the Philippine Cup to stay on the right track of securing a seat in the quarterfinals and possibly a chance at snatching one of the two twice-to-beat advantages in the playoffs.
The Batang Pier are on a four-game roll and sport a 4-1 win-loss record just within striking distance of unbeaten defending champion San Miguel Beer (4-0).
“We’re a young team. We have a lot of young players who are hungry and want to prove something in the league,” Arvin Tolentino said after NorthPort overran an experienced TNT side in a shocking 112-96 blowout Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“That’s the biggest factor why we compete like this. This team is trying to prove something as a team and as individuals also,” added Tolentino, who is just in his fourth year in the league.
Fresher legs and youthful energy have been the biggest advantage of the Batang Pier, who tied the franchise’s longest win streak in an All-Filipino conference first recorded in 2016 — the last time the team advanced into the semifinals of the tournament.
It’s the same weapons that NorthPort used to bury the Tropang Giga, who went down in a 32-point hole and just couldn’t keep up with the Batang Pier’s aggressiveness.
“More than half or ¾ of the team are in their rookie, sophomore and junior years so we want to take advantage of that. We want them to showcase all that they can bring to the table,” Batang Pier coach Bonnie Tan said.
“We don’t have a legit big so one way of beating other teams with legit bigs is to outrun them.”
Tolentino banged in 29 points to lead the assault while second year forward JM Calma posted a career-best 22 points and 13 rebounds in the dominating victory.
“Basically, we’re a young team just like what Arvin said. So, we have to take advantage of that aspect, in the department of running game. We have pass-first point guards, a lot of forward passes and a lot of run-and-gun games,” Tan said.
NorthPort leads the league in total point output, averaging 107.6 points per game and second in fastbreak points with 23.40 per outing just behind Rain or Shine (25.17).
