NorthPort’s unfolding brigade

NorthPort head coach Bonnie Tan pulled a few surprises in his roster for the PBA On Tour and enlisted four players who’ve never applied for the draft. It’s a test for the newbies and if they pass, the way could be cleared to join the draft on Sept. 17. Two of the four are fresh grads – Letran teammates Fran Yu and Tommy Olivario. The others are Jan Sobrevega and Johnnel Bauzon. Others in the lineup are comebacking PBA players Wendell Comboy, Jonjon Gabriel and Jebb Bulawan.

Tan is filling the holes left by Robert Bolick, Roi Sumang and Arthur dela Cruz. Bolick’s average of over 20 points a game will be sorely missed. He’ll shine in the Japanese B-League for sure. Sumang, who’s back in the MPBL, and Dela Cruz were released. Yu, 24, and Olivario, 25, were on three NCAA title teams together. Sobrevega, 24, is from the 3x3 ranks like Comboy and Bulawan. He finished at UE in 2018 but the 5-10 guard never entered the draft. Bauzon, 24, is a lean 6-4 forward who’s a Mark Borboran play and look alike. He played for Diliman College up to 2019. In NorthPort’s 112-95 win over Blackwater last Friday, Bauzon impressed with seven points on 75 percent field-goal shooting and three rebounds over 9:58 minutes.

Gabriel, 30, was TNT’s first-round pick in 2017 and has played for Terrafirma and Blackwater. He’s missed NorthPort’s last two outings due to the flu. Comboy, 25, was Rain or Shine’s second-round pick in 2019 and a San Miguel Beer backup guard for three seasons. Bulawan, 30, was Meralco’s third-round choice in 2017 and played a game for NorthPort in 2017-18. They’re all battling for a roster spot when the PBA opens its next season on Oct. 15.

NorthPort team manager Pido Jarencio said William Navarro, who suffered an ACL injury last December, is on the mend and should be ready to practice in September. Jarencio said Navarro’s contract is expiring and in the process of renewal. A player who’s expected to assume a bigger role in NorthPort’s immediate future is Arvin Tolentino. Last Friday, he was named Best Player of the Game after compiling 22 points, 18 in the second half and five rebounds. Tolentino hit three triples in the third quarter to spike NorthPort’s breakaway. “Malaking bagay ‘yung Gilas experience niya,” said Jarencio. “Ang taas na ng kaniyang kumpyansa.” Tolentino was on the Gilas squad that regained the SEA Games championship in Cambodia. His wife Brandy, Doug Kramer’s sister, gave birth to their first child, a girl, a few weeks ago.

A budding star on the rise is Joshua Munzon who’s finally revealing his true identity as an impact player. Munzon, 28, was the 2021 draft’s first overall pick after Gilas choices Jordan Heading, Navarro, Tzaddy Rangel and Jaydee Tungcab. In back-to-back contests in the PBA On Tour, the former Terrafirma high-flyer hit 16 and 19 as NorthPort beat TNT and Blackwater. Munzon is a key contributor in Tan’s youth corps with Tolentino, 27, JM Calma, 25, Navarro, 26, and Christian Balagasay, 26. But Tan relies just as much on his experienced veterans like Arwind Santos, 42, Jeff Chan, 40, Paul Zamar, 35, and Paolo Taha, 32.

Zamar, Ginebra’s fourth-round pick in 2012, has resurrected his career with the Batang Pier. After stints with Blackwater and San Miguel, Zamar was traded to NorthPort last January. In the PBA On Tour, he’s scored in double figures every game. Against his former teams, Zamar shot 20 in a loss to San Miguel and 17 in a win over Blackwater. Last Friday’s victory could be a portent of good things to come. NorthPort posted an assist-to-turnover ratio of 20:9, shot 50 percent from the field, had 17 more field goal attempts and outscored the Bossing in paint points, 58-36. Blackwater never led and NorthPort’s biggest lead was 26.