NorthPort team manager Bonnie Tan did not take all the credit after earning his first win as the team’s interim head coach, Thursday evening.
The amiable executive steered the Batang Pier to a dominant 98-73 victory over the struggling Blackwater in 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup action. Still, he said that it was still the work of the coaches at home who made wonders.
The Letran Knights mentor is pinch-hitting for chief shot-caller Pido Jarencio, who, together with his staff, are still clearing quarantine protocols.
“Ang mga coaches ko, sila pa rin ang nag-coach ngayon,” said Tan, who’s actually celebrating his birthday. “Coach Pido, mga coaches natin, sina Rensy [Bajar] and Jeff Napa, did a good job. ‘Yung scouting reports nila nasunod.
“Talagang I have to ano lang, do my part to replace sa ngayon,” added the one-time NCAA champion coach.
Aside from the coaches, Tan also tipped his hat to the Batang Pier players. Specifically, he credited team captain Sean Anthony and fellow leader Kevin Ferrer. The two helped lead the team practices with Jarencio and Co. away.
“Give credit to our captain balls, mga leaders natin Sean Anthony and Kevin Ferrer who took charge in behalf of the coaches,” he said. “And pati sina Robert Bolick, mga senior namin, and sina Greg [Slaughter] na matured na.”
Tan, who entered the Pampanga semi-bubble a few days ago, lauded the professionalism he saw during his first practice with the team.
Photo by PBA Images
“When I went to my first practice with the team, sinurprise ko sila eh. And I was impressed,” he said. “Even without a coach, nakita ko how dedicated nga sila mag-usap-usap, mag-execute ng coaches’ practice plan.
“So nakita ko kaagad ‘yung pagiging positive nila and talagang confident ako na going to this game na our leaders, Kevin, Sean, Robert, Greg can surpass this game na ito,” he furthered.
Those aforementioned players definitely led the way for the Batang Pier, who are now 2-3. Robert Bolick finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Ferrer made 14 points, while Slaughter added 12 and 11.
Anthony, meanwhile, contributed nine markers, five boards, two assists, and a steal in nearly 16 minutes off the bench.
NorthPort now has its first game of the season resumption in the books. Expectations will surely rise now that they have aced their first test despite their predicament. Tan, though, is taking it one at a time.
“We have three games pa within a week,” he said, as the Batang Pier will play Terrafirma and NLEX over the weekend. “Kailangan ng maraming games na hahabulin.
“We’ll take it one game at a time.”
