ANTIPOLO – Terrafirma saved its best for last by taking down TNT anew, 117-108, in a rousing conclusion by the also-ran side to their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup campaign at the Ynares Center here, Wednesday night.
With nothing to fight for, the Dyip still wanted to end their conference with a bang and did so, roaring for 74 big points in the middle quarters for a 99-70 lead before cruising comfortably to their lone win of the mid-season tournament.
“Pinagkatiwalaan ko lang sila,” acting coach Raymond Tiongco said. “We made our shots kanina kaya siguro maganda nilaro namin.”
(C) PBA Images
The crew came into the match in the midst of a harrowing 12-game losing skid that dates back to the Governors’ Cup last September, but finally laid as much to rest at the expense of the very same team it beat for its first win of the season.
With Johnedel Cardel still calling the shots at that time, Terrafirma dealt the Tropang Giga an 84-72 upset to enter the winners’ circle after an 0-8 start.
But without a shadow of a doubt, Wednesday’s victory was far more impressive, which saw the team seize control in the second quarter before catching fire in the following period that left their foes — and the fans watching — shocked.
Rookie Mark Nonoy starred in the conquest with a career-high 33 points, highlighted by an excellent 2-of-3 clip from four — one of which he nailed just before the third ended to give themselves the aforementioned 29-point lead.
“Kanina naging confident ako kasi gusto kong ma-challenge siya. Kasi idol ko ‘yun e. Sobrang thankful ako kasi na-overcome ko rin ‘yung [kaba] ko, nakalaro ako ng maayos,” said Nonoy, who went 5-of-6 from three.
Brandon Edwards supplied 19 points and 12 rebounds with six assists. Louie Sangalang made 16 points while Aljun Melecio and Kemark Carino added 10 apiece in the win that saw Terrafirma sink a total of 14 triples.
And together, they snapped the six-game winning streak of TNT, who from no. 1 went all the way down to no. 6 in standings with a 6-3 record, joining Rain or Shine as of the moment as the Elasto Painters are set to play Ginebra later.
(C) PBA Images
Wasted by the surprising defeat was the 41-point, 10-rebound effort of the do-it-all Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to lead the perennial contenders.
Calvin Oftana had 17 points. Rey Nambatac scored 12 points while Castro added 11 markers off the bench for the Tropang Giga, who will try to bounce back against Phoenix this Friday in the same venue.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 117 – Nonoy 33, Edwards 19, Sangalang 16, Carino 10, Melecio 10, Ferrer 9, Pringle 8, Manuel 6, Hernandez 4, Catapusan 2, Hanapi 0.
TNT 108 – Hollis-Jefferson 41, Oftana 17, Nambatac 12, Castro 11, Pogoy 9, Galinato 5, Erram 5, Razon 4, Khobuntin 2, Aurin 2, Payawal 0, Williams 0, Varilla 0.
Quarterscores: 25-28, 61-50, 99-70, 117-108
