PBA: Stephen Holt nails game-winner as Terrafirma nips NorthPort for 5th win

Stephen Holt proved steady in the waning moments as Terrafirma held off NorthPort, 110-108, to check a two-game skid in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, April 24 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

Holt fired 22 points, none bigger than the game-winning layup that allowed the Dyip to improve to a 5-5 record with the playoffs fast approaching. 

NorthPort suffered its fifth straight loss after an impressive 4-1 start.

[ALSO READ: PBA: Sweet-shooting Marcio Lassiter is Player of the Week]

With fellow Terrafirma standout Juami Tiongson fouling out at the 24.6 mark, Holt stepped up and delivered the killer blow, slicing through three players to shatter a 108-all count and seal the win.

Arvin Tolentino, whose freebies from Tiongson's sixth foul knotted the count at 108 for the Batang Pier, tried to tie the game again from there and force the overtime but ran into the Dyip's defense at the post, with Kemark Carino ultimately stopping him with a block. 

Terrafirma thus reached five wins for the first time under the mentorship of Johnedel Cardel, who took over the coaching reins in 2018.

But Cardel knows that there is much learning to be done for his young squad as they try to duplicate their only playoffs appearance in the 2016 Governor's Cup.

[RELATED STORY: PBA: Remember the last time the Terrafirma franchise made the playoffs?]

“Malalaking 'tong mga player ko, but they're still young. They have a lot to learn [on] how to play as a team,” said Cardel during the post-game press conference. 

“Ganoon pa rin, teaching point pa rin kaming mga coaches. Maybe this win will get us to the quarterfinals.”  

The Scores:

TERRAFIRMA 110 – Holt 22, Tiongson 21, Sangalang 19, Gomez de Liano 14, Go 10, Carino 9, Alolino 7, Cahilig 6, Ramos 2, Camson 0, Calvo 0.

 NORTHPORT 108 – Tolentino 25, Flores 18, Navarro 17, Bulanadi 14, Zamar 10, Lucero 9, Munzon 7, PChan 5, araiso 3, Cuntapay 0, Yu 0.

 Quarterscores: 27-22, 54-55, 88-78, 110-108