Team spirit pushes Dyip forward

MANILA, Philippines — They have high-potential talent, competitive spirit and drive. But what makes the Terrafirma Dyip click and go on a roll in the PBA Philippine Cup is firm belief they can do it and trust in one another.

“Bilog naman ang bola. As long as we play together, play within the system, magkaka-chance kami,” said Dyip coach John Cardel, whose crew led by Juami Tiongson, Stephen Holt, Javi Gomez de Liaño, Isaac Go and Kemark Carino have steered Terrafirma to one of its best starts at 4-3.

This worked for them in a king-size 91-85 upset of heavyweight Barangay Ginebra last Sunday.

This the emboldened Dyip look to repeat when they face unbeaten defending champion San Miguel Beer (4-0) today at 4:30 p.m. in another tough test at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

“If we get a chance of winning in the fourth quarter (against SMB), we’ll grab it. We’ll just have to remind the players sa sistema tayo, huwag kanya-kanya,” said Cardel.

Like SMB and Terrafirma, streaking NorthPort (4-1) is tracking to get to win No. 5 in its 7:30 p.m. duel with skidding Magnolia (1-2).

The Batang Pier have won their last four games.