Even though NorthPort ended the Commissioner’s Cup eliminations as the top seed after defeating the elite of PBA powerhouses, William Navarro felt belittled by the lack of conversation about the team.

It’s a legitimate complaint. Because of their speed and skill set, they are not only the league’s finest team in this conference, but they are also among the most entertaining to watch.

On the other hand, despite their historic run to the elimination round and early playoff success, it is now impossible to really blame the fans for raising doubts about the team’s current future.

The good news is that when the semifinals begin on February 26, Navarro and company will have the ideal opportunity to finally overcome the long-standing stigma associated with “farm teams” by defeating Barangay Ginebra four games to seven in a series.

Considering that, let’s examine this Batang Pier squad and how it compares to the crowd favorites in this seven-game matchup.

Why is this team dangerous?

NorthPort is now the most formidable attacking force in the PBA thanks to clearly defined roles, an abundance of weaponry, and the ideal reinforcement.

Let’s put an end to this. As the league’s most effective perimeter scorer right now, Arvin Tolentino ought to win his first Best Player of the Conference honor. In order to ensure that he has a deep run this time, he also has the ideal individuals by his side.

Kadeem Jack completely fills the void left by the Batang Pier in the middle, and Joshua Munzon is having the greatest conference of his PBA career, dominating both sides of the court.

Their league-best 109.6 points per game is evidence that this triad, which averages 73 points per game overall, is capable of carrying the offense even against the league’s top teams.

However, the three players mentioned above are not the only ones who must succeed. I’ve always thought highly of Navarro because of his versatility as a defender and his ability to fit in with any offensive scheme, whether it’s moving without the ball, spotting up for open looks, or scoring a basket on second chances.

With the exception of one game this conference, they have been without their most seasoned guard, Jio Jalalon. However, collegiate champion guards Evan Nelle and Fran Yu have been more than capable in leading the Batang Pier offense.

Next up is coach Bonnie Tan, who, in my opinion, doesn’t receive enough recognition for this run. Like his three-peat run at Letran, the players have fully embraced Tan’s and the coaching staff’s goals, which is essential for any club hoping to win a title.

Tan’s ability to convince his squad to follow his lead is demonstrated by the fact that they have clear responsibilities and players that are prepared to make sacrifices and perform the grunt work.

It’s shocking to see that NorthPort is a below-average three-point shooting club even though they lead the league in scoring. The Batang Pier hasn’t used the three-ball as their primary weapon, making just 88 threes in 12 games, which is the second-lowest number in the league. They are also in the middle of the pack in terms of percentages.

Throughout the conference, clubs have been plagued by their pace.

At every opportunity, the Batang Pier would flee. In terms of steals, points off turnovers, and fastbreak points, they are the league leaders.

Munzon and Yu, who play backcourt together, have been excellent at forcing mistakes, getting deflections, and launching their main offensive attack as soon as the break occurs.

It’s difficult to stop the Batang Pier when they start running because of their relatively youthful lineup, which seems to have the stamina to run their opponents to the ground.

However, stopping their primaries is only the first step in the process. Tolentino and Jack’s two-man game is a nightmare for any team in the half court, and it’s nearly difficult to stop them without getting fouled.

With 117 attempts this season and an 80.3 percent shooting percentage, Tolentino is the best local player at getting to the free throw line.

The good news is that, given their tactics and their opponent’s current circumstances in Ginebra, it would seem as though the Batang Pier would attack at the ideal moment.

It will be difficult to keep up with NorthPort’s run-and-gun approach with an eight- to nine-man rotation, so their unrelenting pace might be the ideal counterpoint to Tim Cone’s short rotation.

Then you add in Ginebra’s weariness.

The core of Cone, Justin Brownlee, Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Troy Rosario will have a busy February with Gilas Pilipinas, beginning with their training camp in Qatar and the final two games of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Taipei and Auckland, while NorthPort gets ready for the semifinals.

By utilizing their skills and making the most of their current circumstances, the Batang Pier can make their push for the finals at no better time.