The Terrafirma Dyip fended off the NLEX Road Warriors on the way to a 2-0 start in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Sunday, March 3.
Terrafirma made its best start in a while after clipping NLEX, 99-95, in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Sunday, March 3.
The Dyip rose to 2-0 for the first time since the 2016 Governors’ Cup where they also reached the quarterfinals.
It was also the only time the franchise made the playoffs.
Juami Tiongson led the Dyip with 21 points, five short of reaching the 2000-point mark. He also had two rebounds, three assists and a steal.
The Terrafirma main man, who is set to appear in his first All-Star appearance later this month, later revealed he was not aware he was on the threshold of what could have been another career milestone.
Javi Gomez de Liano and Stephen Holt scored 18 and 17 points, respectively. JP Calvo tallied 16, the last two of which coming from a pair of free throws that shut the door on the Road Warriors with 22.3 ticks left.
"Sabi ko sa kanila, every game, kailangang manalo kami. Hindi namin iniisip na may dalawang panalo na kami kasi baka mag-relax kami," said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel.
The Dyip actually recovered from a 10-point halftime deficit, 57-47, behind a 10-0 start to the third period.
It was a nip-and-tuck contest from there. But Tiongson, Aldrech Ramos, Isaac Go and Calvo conspired in the final three minutes to preserve a slim 93-91 Terrafirma lead to the finish.
Sean Anthony muffed a couple of point-blank shots as the Road Warriors tried to turn it around in the crucial stretch, including one with seven ticks to go in the fourth period that could have made things interesting.
Terrafirma instead secured the early lead together with Blackwater which totes an identical 2-0 mark.
"We pushed them para maging effective ang depensa namin," Cardel said about the team's resurgence after the break.
Robert Bolick was on fire anew, scattering 29 markers following a 31-point showing the last time out. However, he could not save NLEX from the jaws of defeat this time.
He laced his offensive outburst with eight assists and five rebounds but turned the ball over five times.
Jhan Nermal added 15 points in a losing cause for the Road Warriors, who now has a 1-1 win-loss card.