Terrafirma ends slump

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time in nine months, Terrafirma came out of an official PBA game as winners.

The Dyip beat Blackwater, 97-87, to punch into the win column of the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup yesterday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

John Cardel’s charges improved to 1-1 in the season-opening conference and did more than that as they snapped an extended losing streak of eight games dating back to the last Governors’ Cup.

Coincidentally, the Dyip did it at the expense of the Bossing – the same team they defeated back on Feb. 9, 119-106, before losing their last seven matches of the Season 47-ending conference then starting the new season with a 103-108 setback to NorthPort.

After a rousing 103-84 opening win over Converge, the Bossing fell to their second straight loss.

Top gun Juami Tiongson rifled in 25 points that went with eight assists and two steals to lead an array of heroes in getting Terrafirma out of its funk.

Javi Gomez de Liaño came out big with 17 laced by a 3-of-4 clip from beyond the arc, making damage in Terrafirma’s game-changing runs in the third and fourth.

Import Thomas Hugo de Thaey produced a solid 15 and 12 as rookie Kemark Cariño had a breakout outing of 10 spiked by two treys plus nine boards to add fuel to the Dyip’s fire.

“It’s a total collective effort,” said Tiongson. “We played as a team. Even though there were calls that didn’t go our way, we stayed focused and stuck together and trusted the game plan.”

Tiongson also gave props to No. 1 pick Stephen Holt, whose impact on defense was bigger than his 7-7-5 statline.