TAKEAWAYS: EIGHT TURNOVERS, MISSED FT MAR RARE BROWNLEE OFF-NIGHT

NORTHPORT welcomed 2025 with a bang, surviving the never-say-die Barangay Ginebra Kings, 119-116, in a thrilling main game of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup double-header on Wednesday night.

Import Kadeem Jack, Arvin Tolentino, and Joshua Munzon held the fort for the Batang Pier amid a huge fourth-quarter comeback by the boys of coach Tim Cone to preserve the morale-boosting win and keep the top spot with their 7-1 record.

READ NorthPort hopes win vs Ginebra will banish 'farm team' perception

The loss snapped the Kings’ two-game win streak. They now carry a 5-3 record.

Rain or Shine also continued to roll into the New Year, hacking out a 122-106 win over Blackwater to stretch their winning run to five for a 5-1 slate.

The Bossing skidded to a 1-6 record.

Some of the takeaways from the doubleheader at Philsports Arena:

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

1. TOLENTINO MAKES STRONG CASE FOR BPC PLUM – the 29-year-old forward is running a close second behind perennial Best Player of the Conference winner June Mar Fajardo in the race for the highest individual honor of the tournament. And with Northport piling up the wins, Tolentino could yet give the 6-foot-10 San Miguel star a run for his money. The Batang Pier main man was clutch in the win over the Kings, nailing 6 of 9 shots from beyond the arc for 29 points as he finally put one over his former team after six attempts in the past.

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

2. NORTHPORT CORE CAN COMPETE – barring a major shakeup in its roster, the Batang Pier proved they can stand toe-to-toe with the league’s elite team as proven by their victory over the Kings and a league-best 7-1 record. Northport has the length, size, youth, and athleticism going for the team that reaching the semifinals – or even a first-ever finals appearance - is not a far-fetched idea for this organization referred by some as a 'farm team.'

3. UN-BRONWLEE-LIKE PERFORMANCE – Justine Brownlee missing the second of three free throws in the final eight seconds of a close game was excusable, but what was glaring for the three-time Best Import winner was the game-high eight turnovers he committed including the last one where he slipped on the floor on transition play and the Kings trailing by just two points. It was truly a rare night when one of the imports considered among the ‘GOATS’ (Greatest Of All Time) in PBA history would commit an awful lot of turnovers.

PHOTO: Mark Cristino

4. CAN BAREFIELD STAY HEALTHY FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON? – obviously, the absence of No. 2 overall pick Cedric Barefield due to plantar fasciitis has been a heavy burden for Blackwater. Barefield is one half of the 1-2 punch of the Bossing and without him, the defense has been collapsing on high-scoring import George King. While big men Christian David, Justin Chua, James Kwekuteye, and the rest of the team have been doing their share, the Bossing are still a different team with Barefield around. His hot outside shooting can easily spread the floor and he can go strong to the basket, too. So far, the Fil-Am guard has been in and out of the Blackwater roster, and how healthy he can stay will have a big say on how far the Bossing can go not only this conference but likewise for the rest of the Season 49. 

2025-01-09T08:07:33Z