NorthPort advances to PBA Commissioner's Cup semis

The NorthPort franchise secured its place in the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals with a narrow victory over Magnolia, 113-110, on Thursday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

NorthPort rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to take control of the game and held off Magnolia's late-game rally, advancing to its first semifinal appearance since 2019 despite playing without injured players Sidney Onwubere and Damie Cuntapay.

William Navarro emphasized that NorthPort considers itself an underdog even after clinching the top spot in the elimination round and defeating a veteran-laden team like Magnolia, expressing their desire to prove themselves further in the upcoming best-of-seven series against either Barangay Ginebra or Meralco Bolts.

Navarro and assistant coach Rensy Bajar revealed that players had a meeting days before the quarterfinals match where they discussed roles and strategies needed for victory. The team will now shift focus to their next opponent, which will be determined on Sunday.

NorthPort will have a long preparation period as the league takes a break for the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, with Bajar hoping that injured players Damie Cuntapay and Sidney Onwubere can recover during this time.