Terrafirma slew one of the league’s giants in San Miguel in overtime, 110-104, to finally score its first win in the 2021 Honda-PBA Philippine Cup, Wednesday at the Don Honorio Ventura State University Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
The Dyip completed the comeback from 16 points down en route to breaking through the winner’s circle after starting the conference with four straight losses. That leaves Blackwater as the only winless team with an 0-4 record.
“Even though we were 0-4, I kept on motivating my players,” said head coach Johnedel Cardel. “I tell them to play hard every day. We had seven more games, and I didn’t want to end it without winning.”
Juami Tiongson led Terrafirma with a career-high 28 points on 47-percent shooting from the field. He also had seven assists and three rebounds.
Ten of his points came in the fourth quarter, including the big pull-up jumper that tied the game up at 95-all with 44 seconds left to play. That capped off the fightback from a 10-point deficit a few minutes prior.
The 30-year-old failed to convert the chance to win it at the buzzer, but made up for it in the extra period. As the Beermen knocked within a point, he buried a booming trey. That pushed their lead to four, 104-100, with 2:13 left to play.
Rashawn McCarthy, Eric Camson, and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser then applied the finishing touches to secure the massive upset.
“I told them we have a game against San Miguel, I know this is a very strong team, so we have to work hard – just go on the court, play as a team, and enjoy playing the game. Kaya ‘yun, iba nangyari at nanalo,” Cardel said.
Aldrech Ramos finished with 17 points and eight rebounds in the win. Camson supplied 13 points and 10 boards, while Joseph Gabayni produced 11 markers and 15 caroms. McCarthy added 10 off the bench.
“All the boys really played hard. We worked hard. Thank the Lord we won this game,” said an elated Cardel.
The Dyip did not have Joshua Munzon and Roosevelt Adams in the win. The former is out of the season due to a hand injury; meanwhile, the latter is expected to return soon as he is still recovering from a bum stomach.
Terrafirma also spoiled the return of Terrence Romeo with the win. It was the first game back of the star scorer from a knee injury.
Romeo logged in 38 minutes and led the Beermen with 28 points, six rebounds, and six assists.
The defeat drops their card to 3-2.
Arwind Santos finished with 19 points and nine rebounds. Reigning six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo made 18 and 12 for SMB, who actually held a 69-53 lead with 2:54 left in the third canto before melting down.
Terrafirma looks to make it two in a row versus reigning champions Ginebra on Friday, September 3, at 3:00 p.m. San Miguel, meanwhile, aims to get back on track against Alaska on Saturday, September 4, at 4:35 p.m.
The Scores:
Terrafirma 110 – Tiongson 28, Ramos 17, Camson 13, Gabayni 11, McCarthy 10, Cahilig 9, Ganuelas-Rosser 7, Celda 6, Batiller 5, Laput 4, Calvo 0.
San Miguel 104 – Romeo 28, Santos 19, Fajardo 18, Tautuaa 11, Ross 10, Perez 10, Lassiter 5, Gotladera 3, Pessumal 0, Zamar 0, Gamalinda 0.
Quarterscores: 19-16, 42-40, 61-75, 95-95, 110-104.
