NorthPort, Rain or Shine back in action

MANILA, Philippines — After their semifinal stints in the previous conference, NorthPort and Rain or Shine now face the challenge of sustaining their gains and even outdoing themselves in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The Batang Pier are coming off a breakout campaign in the import-laden Commissioner’s Cup, taking No. 1 seeding for the first time but got stopped on their tracks by Ginebra in the semis, 4-1.

NorthPort star Arvin Tolentino, whose shining performance won him the Best Player of the Conference plum in the mid-season tournament, said the deep run augurs well for the team’s self-belief heading into the All-Filipino.

“Reaching the semis, being No. 1, that’s a big experience for us, a morale booster, a confidence booster. We start to believe na kaya pala namin makipagsabayan sa malakas na teams,” said Tolentino, whose team tries to prove it can contend minus a do-it-all import like Kadim Jack.

The Batang Pier launch their bid today against Terrafirma (1-1) in the 5 p.m. curtain raiser at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Like fellow conference debutant NorthPort, ROS looks to hit the ground running against  NLEX (0-1) in the 7:30 p.m. main fare.