Juami Tiongson reset his career-high once more as Terrafirma stunned reigning champions Barangay Ginebra, 95-90, in the 2021 Honda PBA Philippine Cup Friday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The heady guard finished with 31 points, eclipsing the 29 he made two days ago in the Dyip’s overtime conquest of another giant San Miguel Beer. He also had six assists, three rebounds, and three steals in 36 minutes.
Tiongson drilled a career-best and new franchise record nine triples. The team shot 17 treys all in all, which equaled their third-best in team history and tied the league’s conference-high, per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
It was indeed a historic night for Tiongson and Co. as it marked the first time that Terrafirma won versus the league’s most popular team since entering the league in 2014. They lost all their 16 meetings in the past.
Furthermore, it was their first back-to-back victory since the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup. The ball club formerly known as Kia played 94 games without two consecutive wins, according to Mangonon.
“First of all, I want to give credit to all my players. Everyone, all 11 players playing here talagang gusto nila manalo,” said head coach Johnedel Cardel. “Second, yung coaches ko, nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila.”
Eric Camson also made a mark in the win with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Aldrech Ramos made 11 points, while Rashawn McCarthy added 11.
“As a team, kaya kami nanalo. It’s not because of Juami, it’s because of all the players helping each other to win this game,” said Cardel, who has been manning the sidelines of Terrafirma since 2018.
The Dyip left the Barangay behind in the third quarter, with Tiongson steering the wheel. He had 12 of his points in the said period alone that enabled his crew to lead by 17, 72-55, with 4:05 on the clock,
However, the Gin Kings did not just concede. They slowly chipped away the deficit, and LA Tenorio’s back-to-back treys and a Christian Standhardinger bucket inched them to within three, 85-88, with 1:15 to play.
Tiongson, though, was able to locate McCarthy for a booming wing triple to widen the lead to six with 50 seconds remaining.
Japeth Aguilar made another bucket as a response. But Camson made a lay-up with 17.3 ticks left as he converted the assist of Andreas Cahilig, who ensured that Ginebra won’t close in further with a huge offensive board.
Stanley Pringle buried a three of his own, but Tiongson iced the game by calmly sinking his freebies with 2.3 ticks left to play.
“And Aldrech, kinausap niya yung mga guys na pumunta tayo dito hindi para magbakasyon, pumunta tayo dito para manalo, makuha natin yung unang panalo. We have two wins. Sana magdire-diretso na kami,” Cardel said.
Standhardinger had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Ginebra, who absorbed their third loss in five outings.
Terrafirma will now look to make it three in a row against Blackwater on Sunday, September 5, at 2:00 p.m. in the opening salvo of a triple-bill that also features Ginebra versus Meralco at 4:35 p.m.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 95 — Tiongson 31, Camson 15, Ramos 11, McCarthy 10, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Gabayni 5, Cahilig 5, Celda 5, Laput 2, Batiller 2, Calvo 2.
Ginebra 90 — Standhardinger 17, Aguilar 16, Tenorio 14, Thompson 12, Pringle 11, Caperal 11, Ayaay 5, Mariano 2, Salado 2, Enriquez 0.
Quarterscores: 22-23, 51-46, 78-65, 95-90.
