Terrafirma has no plans of settling for a two-game winning streak as it enters its highly awaited clash against Blackwater on Wednesday at the Ynares Center.
According to Casinoplus, the Dyip come in as a -1.5 favorite against the Bossing, with the over/under set at 200.5. Fans can check the odds and place their bets here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/sport-community/basketball/terrafirma-dyip-vs-blackwater-bossing-218412/
Hungry to prove themselves, the Dyip are gunning for a third straight win—and for the solo lead of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup standings—when they lock horns with a team out to atone for a frustrating start to its campaign.
Game time is set at 5:15 p.m., with the charges of coach Ronald Tubid having zero intentions of wasting the momentum they’ve built early in the midseason joust, which has undeniably turned heads.
“Gutom kami eh,” he said. “‘Yung culture na ine-establish ngayon ng mga coaches, it starts in practice. Now we’re enjoying practice, we’re excited to practice, we’re doing good in practice, so ita-translate na lang sa games ’yun.”
Whipped regularly in past conferences, Terrafirma has opened its campaign with a bang—crushing Titan Ultra before proving it was no fluke with a 111-100 overtime stunner against Converge last Saturday.
The FiberXers came in as the perceived favorites, but the Dyip flipped the script, unleashing an 11-0 run in the extra period behind the monstrous outing of import Mubashar Ali.
Ali erupted for 50 points and 25 rebounds—a performance that, according to longtime statistician Fidel Mangonon III, could be the first 50-20 game in PBA history.
Making it even more remarkable, the 7-foot center also knocked down seven three-pointers while observing daytime fasting for Ramadan.
Still, Tubid emphasized it was a total team effort, with players like Jerrick Ahanmisi stepping up. The newly named PBA Press Corps Player of the Week is averaging 20.0 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals—showing he’s ready for a starring role.
Together with Ali, the duo has powered this intriguing Dyip squad—something Blackwater hopes to counter with import Daniel Ochefu and guard Sedrick Barefield.
The pair showed promise in their debut against NLEX, with Barefield scoring 18 points and Ochefu tallying 16 points and 16 rebounds with two blocks. However, their efforts fell short in an 81-84 collapse against Robert Bolick and company after leading by as many as 16.
That loss only adds intrigue to how the Bossing will respond against a red-hot Terrafirma side.
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Meanwhile, in the 7:30 p.m. nightcap, Converge faces Meralco, with the FiberXers entering as +1.5 underdogs against the Bolts and the total pegged at 201.5, also per Casinoplus. Full odds are available here: https://www.casinoplus.com.ph/sport-community/basketball/meralco-bolts-vs-converge-fiberxers-218392/
It was a shocking setback for Converge, which had just come off a 102-94 comeback win over Macau Black Knights behind Alec Stockton, Kylor Kelley, and Justine Baltazar.
But the FiberXers went ice-cold in overtime against Terrafirma—becoming just the fourth team in PBA history to go scoreless in an extra period.
The last team to suffer the same fate was Magnolia, coincidentally against Converge, in an 89-82 loss back on June 10, 2022, in Antipolo.
How Converge responds will be one of the key storylines, especially as it faces a Meralco squad entering the conference with a revamped lineup.
Looking to avoid further issues after parting ways with Ismael Romero, the Bolts have brought in new import Marvin Jones, who is set to make his debut in Asia’s top professional league.
Coach Luigi Trillo is also expected to parade new acquisitions Jason Brickman and Javee Mocon, adding more depth to the roster.
Despite this being their conference opener, Meralco holds a psychological edge after routing Converge, 105-84, in their last meeting in the Season 50 Philippine Cup behind CJ Cansino’s 29-point explosion.
