Remaining winless after so many games is unfamiliar territory for NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan.

Make no mistake about it, though. The fight stays firmly entrenched for Tan and the rest of the Batang Pier when they take on the equally floundering Terrafirma Dyip Wednesday in the PBA Governors Cup at the PhilSports Arena.

Cellar-dwelling NorthPort is looking for a breakthrough win on its seventh try while Terrafirma wants nothing more than to snap out of a three-game slide, improve its current 2-5 record and fan its hopes of making it among the eight teams advancing to the playoffs.

Tan remains unfazed despite knowing the odds are stacked against his team. “As a coach, kung ano man ang ibigay sa iyo you have to face it,” he said.

“Malaking challenge talaga ito, pero hindi naman tayo umaaatras sa challenge,” added Tan. “Kaya kahit ano’ng challenge iyan haharapin natin, kahit dehado.”

Following a knee procedure that kept him on the sidelines the past four months, former MVP Arwind Santos is finally set to make his conference debut and add some height and experience to a NorthPort team.

Robert Bolick and replacement import Kevin Murphy, both playing in only their third game, are also expected to make their presence more impactful after having a full week since NorthPort’s last game to fully familiarize with their teammates.

But the one thing that really boosts Tan’s confidence is the fact the Batang Pier have not fallen apart throughout all their recent trials that included Roi Sumang and Art dela Cruz also getting injured and listed as game-time decisions for Wednesday.

“Sama-sama pa rin, kung minsan pati sa pagkain,” related Tan, the former team manager who steered Letran to a third straight NCAA seniors championship last December and switched places with erstwhile head coach Pido Jarencio barely a week before the conference began.

“Lagi ring nag-uusap and as a team naman kami humahanap ng paraan. Matibay pa rin ‘yung camaraderie ng team,” added Tan.