‘Farm team’ remark fires up Batang Pier in statement win vs FiberXers

MANILA, Philippines – The “farm team” comment made by Converge assistant coach Danny Ildefonso lit up a fire under NorthPort in their clash with the FiberXers Thursday evening, Batang Pier head coach Bonnie Tan admitted. 

NorthPort had a statement win on Thursday, drubbing Converge, 135-109. The former led by as much as 29 points while the latter was only able to take a one-point lead at the start of the game. 

In the game, five players scored in double digits for the Batang Pier, led by Arvin Tolentino who scored 51 points. This is the first 51 point performance in 20 years, since Asi Taulava’s 51 against Purefoods in the 2004 Fiesta Conference. 

The win came a couple of days after the PBA slapped a P20,000 fine on Ildefonso after seemingly calling NorthPort a “farm team” on social media. His son, Dave, is still yet to sign a contract with the squad after being picked fifth overall in this year’s rookie draft. 

Tan admitted that Ildefonso’s comment challenged the team. 

“It’s all good. We shook hands. Sports. Our game was fair,” Tan told reporters in Filipino.

“I also want to thank those kinds of write-ups because that challenged the team. Not only the players, but also the whole team. We brought the fight when the articles [on the comments] were published,” he added. 

Tan bared that the team discussed Ildefonso’s comments before the game. 

“Prior to the game, we opened up that topic about that… and I think we were all challenged by that statement.” 

And challenged they sure were. 

The Batang Pier made 43 of their 80 shots, good for 53.8%. They also sank 13-of-28 3-pointers.

Converge, on the other hand, was held to 46.6% field goal shooting and 37% 3-point shooting. 

The Batang Pier are now holding a 2-1 win-loss record, tied for the second place in Group A play. The FiberXers, meanwhile, dropped to 2-2.