Juami Tiongson nailed the game-winner to help Terrafirma complete a massive comeback against Blackwater, 92-91, and get back on track in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The star guard sank the go-ahead pull-up triple with 12.5 seconds left, and the Dyip collared the possession following RK Ilagan’s missed trey on the other end.
That finally let the crew arrest their two-game losing skid.
Tiongson overcame his early shooting struggles and finished with 20 points and six rebounds to help lead the rally from as many as 19 points down.
“I want the ball to end up with Juami or Stephen eh, kung ganyang mga crucial. Juami got the ball – ayun, pinanalo niya kami,” said head coach Johnedel Cardel.
Stephen Holt top-scored for Terrafirma with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Isaac Go came through with 17 points and seven rebounds.
Holt, Tiongson, and Go combined for 31 of the team’s 35 points in the third quarter to slice the gap to only four, 77-73, entering the final frame.
That set up the tight exchange, and the game seemed to have gotten away from the Dyip when Ilagan put the Bossing up, 90-89.
Then Holt turned the ball over as his pass intended for Andreas Cahilig sailed outside with 23.1 seconds left.
Rey Nambatac, however, only managed to split his charities shortly after, leaving the door open for Cardel’s wards to steal the win – which they did.
“We’re just lucky kasi nagmintis ng free throw si Nambatac,” said Cardel. “Akala niya (Tiongson) three points ang lamang, so he took that shot. Pumasok.”
Missed free throws have cost Blackwater another game. Previously, Rey Suerte missed four freebies in the final 1:44 of their match versus NLEX last Wednesday at the Philsports Arena, leading to a 103-97 defeat.
Troy Rosario top-scored for Blackwater with 23 points and eight rebounds in the loss, now their second in a row after a 3-0 start into the conference.
Ilagan made 15 points. Suerte supplied 12 points, four rebounds, and five assists while Bradwyn Guinto added 10 in the heartbreaking loss.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 92 – Holt 21, Tiongson 20, Go 17, Sangalang 8, Sangalang 8, Alolino 6, Gomez de Liano 6, Carino 5, Camson 4, Cahilig 3, Ramos 2, Calvo 0.
Blackwater 91 – Rosario 23, Ilagan 15, Suerte 12, Guinto 10, David 9, Nambatac 8, Tungcab 6, Hill 4, Yap 3, Escoto 0Casio 0, Kwekuteye 0.
Quarters: 21-25, 38-54, 73-77, 92-91.
