Terrafirma enters the second round of the eliminations still winless after five games, having lost to TNT, 107-89, last Thursday. The Dyip get a perfect opportunity to finally win as NorthPort (2-3) has lost its final two games, including a 105-94 defeat to Magnolia last Wednesday.
NorthPort vs. Terrafirma
When: Sunday, September 8. 5 p.m.
Where: Ninoy Aquino Stadium
Watch: RPTV, PBA Rush, Pilipinas Live
Are Jois and Navarro coming back?
Venky Jois and William Navarro were not around in NorthPort’s loss to Magnolia after sustaining sprained ankles in two separate incidents. NorthPort definitely hopes that the two are already a hundred percent as their void was clearly difficult to fill during the Hotshots contest.
Arvin Tolentino on a slump
Two games after scoring 51 points against Converge last August 29, Tolentino slumped offensively, having made just 11 while shooting 5-of-11 from the field in the Magnolia defeat, compounding the Batang Pier’s woes after they lost Jois and Navarro due to an injury.
Player to watch
Cade Flores took on the offensive load in the absence of Jois and Navarro when he had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss to Magnolia. Another similar performance for Flores will boost NorthPort’s odds of winning against Terrafirma.
Paolo Hernandez has been getting the green light to take shots for Terrafirma, and his production will once again be needed against NorthPort. In their loss to TNT, Hernandez finished with 13 points on 4-of-10 from the field.
Shabazz Muhammad’s PBA return got delayed, so Meralco jumped on the opportunity.
Keeping control throughout the game, the Bolts warded off the import-less Magnolia Hotshots, 82-74, for the second straight time in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup on Saturday, September 7, at the Panabo Multi-Purpose Tourism, Sports, and Cultural Center in Davao del Norte.
The win propelled Meralco back on top of Group A with a 5-1 record, while the Hotshots, whose all-Filipino squad missed the services of new import Muhammad, dropped to 3-3.
Muhammad arrived in Panabo in the morning of the game but was relegated to just a benchwarmer as he still awaits his FIBA Letter of Clearance (LOC).
