ANTIPOLO — Terrafirma continued its impressive start in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup by adding the struggling Blackwater to its growing list of victims, 99-88, on Wednesday evening at the Ynares Center here.
The Dyip waxed hot from beyond the arcs and charged to a 33-15 lead after the first, and then showed their vastly improved character as they overcame the Bossing’s huge second quarter by restoring order, especially in the fourth.
Joseph Eriobu, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Geo Chiu led the strong windup, and the squad went on to chalk up their third win in as many games, in the process moving themselves closer to matching their best start in a conference.
The record is at 4-0, which the team–then carrying the Mahindra banner–did during the 2016 Governors’ Cup, which culminated in a quarterfinal run.
(C) PBA Images
“It starts in practice,” said head coach Ronald Tubid when asked how the crew as a whole made sure to prove that their wins against Titan Ultra and especially Converge–which they pulled off in OT–were no fluke whatsoever.
Mubashar Ali, who erupted for 50 versus the FiberXers, led the way once again with 22 points alongside 23 rebounds, three assists, and a block.
Paolo Hernandez came through with 20 points, on top of five rebounds, and three assists on his way to bagging home Player of the Game honors.
Jerrick Ahanmisi knocked down a pair of four-pointers and went on to finish with 18 points. Eriobu delivered 12 points and seven rebounds, while the elder Ahanmisi chipped in 10 markers, four boards, and five dimes, plus a steal.
The seasoned tandem of Eriobu and Ahanmisi had a hand in restoring order, conniving for a mini run toward a 92-76 lead with 6:10 remaining in the game.
Terrafirma finished with a total of 14 made shots from the two arcs, including a 3-of-6 clip from 27 feet away, as their outside sniping did wonders.
The Dyip will look to match their record start from a decade ago when they take on Charles Tiu’s Phoenix next Wednesday, March 25, still in Antipolo.
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Sedrick Barefield, on the other hand, led Blackwater with 25 points as the young guard carried much of the load, with Daniel Ochefu injured.
Ochefu did play, but his hyperextended knee–which he sustained against NLEX in their debut–limited his production to just 11 points and seven rebounds.
BJ Andrade was the only other player in double digits with 10 points for the Bossing, who fell to their second loss in as many outings.
Coach Jeff Cariaso and his charges will look to break through this Sunday when they take on Magnolia, a game in which they could be parading a new import in Robert Upshaw depending on how Ochefu and his knee would respond.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 99 – Ali 22, Hernandez 20, J.Ahanmisi 18, Eriobu 12, M.Ahanmisi 10, Bravo 7, Chiu 7, Zaldivar 3, Umali 0.
Blackwater 88 – Barefield 25, Ochefu 11, Andrade 10, Ilagan 9, Mendoza 8, Tratter 7, Una 6, David 5, Panopio 4, Escoto 3, Guinto 0, Mallilin 0, Jopia 0, Murrell 0.
Quarterscores: 33-15, 50-49, 75-66, 99-88.
