A day after the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel traded him to NorthPort, Sol Mercado watched the Batang Pier take on Rain or Shine in 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup action, Wednesday evening at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“I just wanted to see how they prepared for the game and get a head start seeing their kind of game plan, so that’s why I came to the game,” said Mercado, who will be entering his third stint with the franchise formerly known as GlobalPort.
Things looked ugly for the Batang Pier, though, which makes a rude welcome for Mercado. NorthPort struggled during the third quarter, meaning they went down by as much as 25 points, 84-59.
But that did not mean the end for the Batang Pier.
From that deep of a deficit, NorthPort rallied in the fourth quarter. Eventually, they knotted the game at 100-all with 11.2 seconds left, big thanks to the three-pointer made by Rookie of the Year candidate Robert Bolick.
The match went into overtime. And NorthPort had enough momentum.
After the neophyte out of San Beda, veteran center Mo Tautuaa starred next. He buried a three-pointer of his own with 26.4 seconds left in the game to give the Batang Pier a 107-102 breathing space.
NorthPort won, 107-105, to complete one of the best comebacks this season.
And, of course, to give Mercado a fitting welcome in his return.
“It’s amazing,” said Mercado – who watched from the bench – of the win. “Like I said, the boys got game. And that’s the kind of culture I want to bring over here, because I think it’s a winning cultur. And it looks like they have it.
“Down twenty, they never gave up. Obviously, that comes from the head coach. He came from the never say die culture,” added Mercado, referring to NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio, who is a former Gin King.
“They kind of followed his lead and it was amazing.”
