Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel feel more proud about achieving a major milestone in the venue that has become so dear to his heart.
The veteran mentor registered his first-ever PBA playoff win after steering the Dyip to a huge upset of San Miguel to send their Season 48 Philippine Cup quarterfinal bout to a do-or-die, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
“‘I have some history here,” he proudly told Tiebreaker Times shortly after their 106-95 victory that disarmed the no. 1 seed’s twice-to-beat advantage
Cardel was part of the special batch that gave De La Salle University its maiden UAAP men’s basketball championship back in 1989, where they overcame the twice-to-beat edge of Far Eastern University in the Finals.
That was the first of the Green Archers’ many titles in the country’s premier collegiate league and they won it in the arena built in 1934.
“In 1988 versus Ateneo we lost, but we were rookies ni Limpot,” recalled the 53-year-old as his teammates in that squad included Jun Limpot, Joey Sta. Maria, and Richard del Rosario, to name a few. “Then ’89, ’90.”
That explains why Cardel feels so at home at the RMC. After Saturday, his team is now 2-0 in the historic venue, with its first win a 92-91 result over Blackwater last March 16 that saw Juami Tiongson nail the game-winning triple.
“Kaya maganda ‘yung ano sa akin nito, parang may good spirit sa amin dito. Ewan ko. Masasabi ko every time we play here, I feel great,” he said.
“Even though lamang ang kalaban I still feel great, na parang after the game, something good will happen,” added Cardel.
Definitely, the entire Dyip would want to complete the upset in the rubber match on Wednesday, May 15, at the nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, Terrafirma is carrying a 3-1 record in NAS. Its lone loss in the venue, interestingly, was at the hands of the Beermen – a narrow 113-110 decision in the eliminations last April 10.
As high as their morale is, though, it’s not lost on Cardel and the Dyip that there’s a ton of work ahead if they are to repeat against the reigning champs.
“Kalaban siyempre no. 1 team pa. But that is not enough. This San Miguel is very strong … kung ano ‘yung mga mali namin, pagaaralan namin,” he said.
