ANTIPOLO — Rookie big man Geo Chiu submitted his finest showing to date in powering Terrafirma to a 113-100 victory over Titan Ultra to start the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center here, Friday evening.
The no. 1 pick of the recent draft fell just short of a 20-20 outing with 19 points and 23 rebounds. And he played a key role in the Dyip’s fourth-quarter pullaway for winning a conference debut for the second time this season.
He was part of the five that put together the 11-3 run to turn a slim five-point lead to 107-94 with less than three minutes left, all but sealing the deal.
(C) PBA Images
“Nawalan po kami ng players. ‘Yung mentality naman po is to step up lang. And today po, ako ‘yung nakapag-step up. Pero any given day naman po, ‘yung mga teammates ko po, kaya rin naman po nilang mag-step up,” Chiu said.
Justin Strings top-scored for Terrafirma with 25 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists for a solid PBA debut. He clearly took advantage of playing against an import-less team after their foes failed to secure a permit for James Milton.
JM Bravo made 15 points and nine rebounds. Didat Hanapi supplied 14 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Maverick Ahanmisi added 11 markers in the win that also gave Juami Tiongson a triumphant homecoming of sorts.
Brought back to the franchise where he was once the face of — after being traded by San Miguel Beer along with Chris Miller for rising star Jerrick Ahanmisi and Paolo Hernandez — Tiongson made 13 points on 13 shots off the bench.
(C) PBA Images
“We’re trying to adjust pa kasi we have two new players. Inaano pa namin si Juami and Chris para maka-adjust sa team,” Coach Ronald Tubid said.
The Dyip will now turn their attention to Jimmy Alapag and NLEX, whom they will face this Sunday, July 12, at the Ynares Center II in Montalban.
Aris Dionisio led Titan Ultra with 21 points, while Joshua Munzon and Pao Javillonar added 15 and 11 points, respectively, in the loss.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 113 – Strings 25, Chiu 19, Bravo 15, Hanapi 14, Tiongson 13, Ahanmisi 11, Eriobu 9, Paraiso 5, Zaldivar 2, Umali 0, Garcia 0, Catapusan 0, Mariano 0, Miller 0.
Titan Ultra 100 – Dionisio 21, Munzon 15, Javillonar 11, Sumang 9, Sajonia 9, Cuntapay 9, Balanza 6, Amores 5, Yu 5, Omega 4, Pessumal 2, Ambohot 2, Caralipio 2, Ular 0, Inigo 0.
Quarterscores: 29-25, 51-46, 79-76, 113-100.
