WHETHER NorthPort's high-octane offense would be enough to negate Magnolia's stifling defense in their PBA Commissioner's Cup quarterfinals matchup would be known Thursday when they collide at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
By mainly banking on the three-headed threats from Arvin Tolentino, import Kadeem Jack and Joshua Munzon, the Batang Pier emerged as the top seed from the 12-game eliminations and thus earned a win-once advantage over the eighth-ranked Hotshots.
Still, Magnolia's ability to make stops and harass its opponents, displayed to the fullest in its last four games, make coach Chito Victolero optimistic about his side's chances to at least extend the duel into a decider.
"I like our chances because right now we're playing well (on) both ends of the floor," said Victolero moments after his team carved out a 112-81 win over NLEX in their knockout game for the eighth and last quarterfinals berth last Sunday.
"Ang pinakagusto ko lang, we're all healthy. I think this is only the second or third game na we're fully healthy," added Victolero. "So that's why I'm very confident that although nandito kami sa sit'wasyon na do-or-die I'm very confident na we can battle, every time, every game.
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"Yes, we're the underdogs in this series because we're (practically) down, one and zero, right now, but I like our chances."
Indeed, Magnolia's health issues were done away with at the most opportune time, stoking its surge from a 3-6 record with victories over Phoenix, Hong Kong Eastern and Meralco before the KO match with NLEX.
In those wins, the Hotshots limited their opponents to an average of 88.75 points and enabled them to rise to No. 2 behind Barangay Ginebra in points allowed with a 93.77 ppg norm.
That defense should be severely tested by a NorthPort crew that usually churns out a conference-leading 109.67 ppg, thanks mainly to Jack's average of 31.67 ppg, Tolentino's 23.0 ppg, and Munzon's 18.42 ppg.
The Batang Pier beat the Hotshots, 107-103, in their lone elimination round meeting last Dec. 4 when Jack, Tolentino and Munzon combined for 82 points.
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But that was when Ratliffe was nursing an injured right shoulder, limiting him to just 10 points, and threw Magnolia's defense off-kilter as it gave NorthPort 42 free throw tries which the latter converted into 32 points.
This time, however, Ratliffe is healthy and back to his old solid form as evidenced by his 27.5-point and 17-rebound averages in their last four games to lead a charge that also featured Zav Lucero, Ian Sangalang, Jerom Lastimosa and Mark Barroca.
That finish in the eliminations marks the first time NorthPort achieved a top seeding going into the quarterfinals and it is now just one step away from a third semifinals stint and first since the 2019 Governors' Cup.
For that specific dream to materialize, the likes of Fran Yu, William Navarro, Evan Nelle, Cade Flores and the other Batang Pier relievers should also rise to the occasion. (NC)
