MANILA, Philippines – In the long breather, WHO completed their task? Following the elimination stage, the PBA took a 16-day hiatus. The preparations made during this time could be crucial as the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals begin on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It might play a role in the matchup between NorthPort and Barangay Ginebra, but ultimately, willpower and the desire to succeed might matter most.

At 7:30 p.m., these two teams square off, with NorthPort hoping to build on its strong elim finish and push for a historic first PBA finals appearance.

With its never-say-die motto, Ginebra, on the other hand, aims to maintain its winning record. However, with coach Tim Cone and several important players spending the majority of the two-week break with the Gilas, the Kings might be at a disadvantage.

Three days after the Gilas’ battle against New Zealand in Auckland, the final match of a difficult schedule that saw the Nationals stop in Doha for matches against Qatar, Lebanon, and Egypt before playing the home team in Taipei, the semi-finals got underway.

The main concern for Barangay Ginebra going into the playoffs is whether or not important players Troy Rosario, Jamie Malonzo, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Justin Brownlee will be ready to play again. These key players are essential to the team’s success, and Ginebra’s prospects going forward will be greatly influenced by their performance. As they take on the difficulties ahead, it will be crucial to make sure they are in optimal physical and mental health.

Despite these worries, head coach Tim Cone stressed that Ginebra cannot afford to concentrate only on internal problems because they will be playing NorthPort, a strong opponent. Cone admitted that NorthPort is a formidable obstacle even in the absence of player readiness doubt. To progress in the series, Ginebra needs to provide its best effort.

With an outstanding 9-3 record at the end of the elimination round, NorthPort is the top seed going into the playoffs. One of those wins, a closely contested 119-116 victory over Ginebra, further demonstrated NorthPort’s ability to contend with the best teams in the league. Cone sees the Batang Pier as a serious challenger and thinks this success is no accident.

The influence of their import, Kadeem Jack, has been a major contributor to NorthPort’s impressive achievement. Cone emphasized Jack’s efforts by pointing out his capacity to play important roles for the group. Jack has given NorthPort much-needed rim protection, rebounding, and a potent offensive presence within the paint. Because of his athleticism and adaptability, he has been crucial to NorthPort’s success.

Regaining rhythm and overcoming NorthPort’s advantages will be Ginebra’s main priorities as they get ready for this crucial game. Both teams’ resiliency, strategy, and execution will be put to the test during the series.

Joshua Munzon and Arvin Tolentino, who both played at an MVP level and carried a large portion of the team’s workload for coach Bonnie Tan, have been crucial to NorthPort’s outstanding year. Leading the squad on both sides of the court and assisting NorthPort in securing the top seed going into the playoffs, both players have continuously produced outstanding performances.

The prestigious Best Player of the Conference award is another personal milestone that Tolentino is aiming for. His impressive efforts have put him squarely in the running for the award, which has further inspired him to improve at this pivotal point in the season.

The NorthPort team as a whole is more concerned about reaching the PBA Finals for the first time since the team joined the league in 2012 under the GlobalPort name than with individual honors. The Batang Pier have only made it to the semifinals three times in their more than ten years in the league. They lost to Barangay Ginebra in the 2019 Governors’ Cup and to Alaska Milk in the 2016 Philippine Cup in their two prior Last Four appearances.

NorthPort has another opportunity to change its record and make it to the championship round with this playoff run.