Terrafirma finally got the job done and dealt NLEX its first defeat of the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup group stages, after grinding out a 114-109 decision on Friday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Dyip were staring at a four-point deficit entering the final four minutes of the match. Then Geo Chiu and Brent Paraiso came through with critical hits afterwards, before Maverick Ahanmisi applied the finishing touches to complete the upset.
(C) PBA Images
The troika joined hands for a 9-0 run to finish the match, blanking the Road Warriors to close out this rematch in their favor. That, after the huge comeback from 23 down back in the first round fell just short, 101-100.
And in catching this big of a fish, Coach Ronald Tubid & Co. became the first to stop MVP club’s onslaught. The Road Warriors had won their first six games of the season-ending tourney, in a fiery and promising start under Jimmy Alapag.
Still, NLEX remained on top of Group A with a 6-1 record while Terrafirma improved to 3-4, joining the free-falling Converge at no. 4 in the pool.
“We really, really wanted it,” said Tubid. “Last few games medyo bitin ‘yung energy saka endgame, doon bumibigay. This game, pre-game pa lang, sinabihan na namin na makaka-matchup kami sa NLEX although they’re 6-0.”
Justin Strings led Terrafirma with 28 points, alongside 11 rebounds and six assists to flirt with a triple-double. Juami Tiongson fired 20 points.
Paraiso supplied a third career-best 18 points, with Ahanmisi tallying 16 points and 10 assists as he provided the needed stabilizing presence in the clutch.
Ahanmisi set up Chiu twice, which led to easy buckets from point-blank range— shots that triggered the aforementioned rally. Paraiso then took the next four points, highlighted by an and-one to put them up for good, 111-109.
“Siguro malaking confidence-booster para sa team namin, kasi heartbreaking loss kami last game against Macau,” offered Paraiso. “To beat the number one team in the league, malaking confidence booster para sa amin.”
(C) PBA Images
JM Bravo contributed remarkably as well with 16 points for the Dyip, who will face, interestingly, the FiberXers next on August 11, Tuesday, at NAS.
JB Bahio finished with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while Robert Bolick made 20 as well, alongside eight assists to lead NLEX in the streak-busting loss. DeQuan Jones made 19 points and five rebounds.
Deschon Winston provided 16 while LJ Gonzales added 12, but their balanced attack wasn’t enough.
The Road Warriors will try to get back on track immediately when they take on the Tropang 5G once more on Tuesday, as well as at 7:30 PM.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 114 – Strings 28, Tiongson 20, Paraiso 18, Ahanmisi 16, Bravo 16, Chiu 8, Eriobu 8, Hanapi 0, Mariano 0, Catapusan 0.
NLEX 109 – Bolick 20, Bahio 20, Jones 19, Winston 16, Gonzales 15, Gamboa 8, Alas 4, Nelle 3, Valdez 2, Capulong 2, Rodger 0.
Quarterscores: 34-30; 60-65; 88-86; 114-109.
