Terrafirma makes right plays, grounds NLEx, winning run to halt

Heartbreak results were the norm in Terrafirma’s first-round campaign in the PBA Governors’ Cup, something the Dyip were determined to turn around on a rainy Friday night when they opened the final half of their elimination round schedule.

And the Dyip did as they wished at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium after catching a big finish in Group A leader NLEx, as a 114-109 win handed the Road Warriors their first loss in seven games with Terrafirma fanning their playoff hopes.

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“I think it helped a lot,” guard Maverick Ahanmisi said, referring to those close first-round calls. “It was a learning process for us.”

Terrafirma leaned on a hot start, refused to let NLEx break away after its lead disappeared, before the Dyip made big plays down the stretch as they rose to 3-4 and tied for fourth spot with the sliding Converge FiberXers in the group.

The two will meet on Tuesday at the same venue in a crucial encounter.

Ahanmisi had 16 points, 10 assists and three steals, one of the big reasons for the victory. Import Justin Strings posted 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocks.

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Juami Tiongson scored 20, and Brent Paraiso added 18 points, including a layup off a foul with a minute left that broke a 109-all tie.

NLEx lost for the first time under coach Jimmy Alapag, who earlier in the game gave his team a warning.

“You guys, understand that they lost to Macau last time, and they’re gonna come to play,” Alapag told the team in the huddle, which was heard during the live streaming of the game.

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The defeat spoiled a 20-point and 16-rebound performance from JB Bahio as the Road Warriors couldn’t sustain a seven-point lead.

Meanwhile, action continues on Saturday at Ynares Center Montalban in Rodriguez, Rizal, with San Miguel Beer and TNT eyeing wins to boost their chances of gaining top four spots in Group A.

TNT takes on Macau in the 5:15 p.m. opener before San Miguel guns for a win against Titan Ultra at 7:30 p.m.

Both teams are in the middle portion of the standings, with the Beermen second behind the Road Warriors at 5-2 and the Tropang 5G third, carrying a 3-3 slate.

San Miguel is eyeing a repeat over Titan, which it pummeled by 38 points in the first round, while TNT avoided a scare against Macau during their first meeting.

Macau and Titan sit at the bottom of the standings with similar 2-5 records.