The personable playmaker is becoming one of the PBA's top lead guards.
Juami Tiongson is building quite a case that he is now among the PBA’s elite guards.
His latest masterpiece: 30 points on 6-for-9 from beyond the arc and 10-for-12 from the free throw line.
But this time around, Tiongson’s gaudy numbers helped the Terrafirma Dyip eke out a hard-earned 96-88 win against the Meralco Bolts. Tiongson, who recently signed a contract extension with the Dyip, helped spark Terrafirma to a strong first half, as he and Jordan Williams combined for 31 of the Dyip’s 52 points before intermission.
The 31-year-old guard, however, refused to take credit for his strong start, instead giving it to his teammates.
“I don’t take any credit for myself kasi it’s always about the team,” said Tiongson in the post-game presser. “The team really exclusively looked for me, especially when I was making my shots early . . . They were really telling me, ‘O hahanapin ka namin, ah.’”
But more than his great start, it was Tiongson’s steady fourth quarter that actually towed Terrafirma to its first win in the Governors’ Cup — and only its second in 14 games dating back to the Commissioner’s Cup. With Meralco putting the clamps on Williams in the payoff period, it was Tiongson who took over, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the game’s last 12 minutes. And Terrafirma needed every one of those points as the Bolts were still within striking distance of the Dyip early in the fourth.
Again, Tiongson refused to take any credit.
“We wouldn’t have done it [win the game] without everyone,” said Tiongson. “It was a total collective effort.”
Tiongson is right. But his big game was arguably the biggest difference in that collective effort. And the Ateneo alum being a difference-maker is something Terrafirma has come to expect over these past three seasons. Good thing Tiongson seems to be getting better at it.