THE PBA pre-season tournament does not guarantee roster spots for players, but NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan is convinced it’s certainly a big boost to their careers.
“May mga ginagamit tayo, mga 3×3 (players), mga college players natin. Benefit nila iyon,” Tan said. “Kasi nakikinabang dito (On Tour) iyong mga UFA (unrestricted free agents), magpapa-draft para makita kung ready na sila for the pros, or iyong mga 3×3 kung makakabalik o dapat sila sa 5×5.
“For sure ang dami naman nating natulungan, hindi lang kami kundi pati ibang teams,” he added.
The Batang Pier, fielding some players from their 3×3 squad and Tan’s former charges at Letran, will be tested anew when they take on the NLEX Road Warriors today in the PBA On Tour at the University of Santo Tomas Gym in Manila.
The game is set at 5 p.m. before Ginebra, expected to draw a huge crowd, faces Meralco in the nightcap at 7:30.
Tan wants his team to bring their A-Game for the fans in the opener of the double-header being held as part of the school’s fund-raising events for its athletes.
“Ang sabi ko lang sa mga players, iyong crowd nagbayad para manood so dapat bigyan natin ng magandang laban ang NLEX para masulit ibinayad ng mga tao,” said Tan, whose NorthPort quintet absorbed an 89-125 shellacking from red-hot Magnolia last Friday that dropped the Batang Pier to 3-3.
“Alam naman nating karamihan ng manonood nagpunta doon para sa Ginebra, pero iyong mga nandoon para manood sa atin, pati iyon ibang mga fans na rin natin, dapat mabigyan natin ng good game.”
NorthPort will bank on the likes of Arvin Tolentino, JM Calma, Paul Zamar and Joshua Munzon.
Don Trollano, Sean Anthony, Kevin Alas, Kris Rosales and Ben Adamos are expected to carry the fight for NLEX’s bid to score a big follow up to a 102-94 win over San Miguel Beer last week and improve its 2-4 slate.
