Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel finally got to smile again as the ball club’s struggles finally came to an end after several months on Friday.
The veteran mentor found himself in a celebratory mood after nine months as the Dyip took down the free-falling NLEX through a 124-114 overtime victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup action to stop their 25-game losing skid.
“Nasira ‘yung sumpa,” he exhaled during the post-game press conference at the Willie Caballes Press Hall of the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
It indeed felt like Terrafirma got cursed during that winless stretch, which actually began during last season’s Governors’ Cup back in February.
After a 109-103 win versus Blackwater, a team that eventually became the owner of the league’s longest run of futility with 29 straight defeats, the Dyip would lose their next five outings to end the elimination round at 2-9.
The chance to start afresh in the following season was there but the franchise suffered unlucky breaks, particularly injuries to Isaac Go, Ed Daquioag, and Bonbon Batiller that saw the key cogs fall one after the other.
And as the three were out, the injury bug did not leave the squad that Cardel struggled to play with a full healthy team almost every match.
“Talagang nakasakit sa amin ‘yun, kasi we’re doing good sa offseason that time. Pero nangyari sa amin yun,” reflected Cardel, who has been Terrafirma’s chief shot-caller since 2018.
“After that, dire-diretso pa rin yung talo namin.”
Times were so tough that the former cager turned mentor came to a point where he refrained from reminding his wards the predicament they were in to avoid any sort of demoralization to happen and keep them playing, still.
“Hindi ko na lang iniisip, hindi ko na lang sinasabi sa team,” the 52-year-old admitted. “Sabi ko, ‘Kailangan every time we go to a game, it’s an important game, kailangan manalo.’ Kasi, masyadong mabigat.
“If I tell the boys we have 25 losses, kailangan manalo tayo, masyadong mabigat,” he added. “Sinabi ko, ‘If we enter into the game, Araneta, Ynares, or whatever gym, we go there, that’s the first game.’ We have to win.”
They did fight on, and the Dyip actually had a legitimate chance to end their woes earlier against NorthPort last November 12. They were up for the majority of the match, but failed to close it out and bowed to a 91-85 result.
If anything, glimpses of dark times ending were there. And on Friday, the Dyip finally saw the light with a gritty OT win against the Road Warriors.
“This last five minutes, overtime sabi ko I think binibigay ‘yung game para sa amin so sabi ko, ‘Let’s make an effort, just play your game,‘” Cardel said.
“Just play like you did in the first and second and the third quarter, mananalo tayo. Ayun kinalabasan ng game,” he added, visibly proud of his team.
Once feared to match the Bossing’s record, Terrafirma got its hopes renewed moving forward. And Cardel hopes to see his squad finish the conference strongly as they play their final two assignments.
“At least we can start again,” he said. “We have two more games. Maybe we can get one on San Miguel, and the last game is Phoenix … I think this win will carry us for our last two games.”
