Dyip win in scoring frenzy

MANILA, Philippines — To revive its playoffs drive in the PBA Governors’ Cup, it’s imperative for Terrafirma’s local cogs to switch to high gear in support of Justin Strings.

And the Dyip’s homegrowns – led by veterans Juami Tiongson and Maverick Ahanmisi and young guns Geo Chiu and JM Bravo – rose to the occasion, joining forces with Strings in a bounceback 146-127 romp over Macau yesterday at the Ynares Center Antipolo.

Firing blanks and going scoreless in Wednesday’s 92-116 loss to TNT, Tiongson came into duel of skidding teams locked and loaded, rifling in 30 points spiked by a 7-of-10 clip from beyond the arc.

Ahanmisi turned in a near triple-double of six markers, 12 rebounds and 14 assists while Chiu, rebounding from a meager four-point, four-board output, recorded an 18-20 double-double, and Bravo, coming off a three-point game, shot 22 in a Player of the Game-winning outing.

Together with Strings’ 32-11 effort, this collective production enabled Terrafirma to snap a two-game slide and improve to 4-6 in Group A – within striking distance of fourth-running Converge (5-4).

“Last game namin bad game kami, lalo ako. Pero binigyan pa rin kami ng trust ng coaching staff kaya binigay namin ang best namin,” said Bravo.

Giving their best was what Dyip coach Ronald Tubid and his staff asked for.

“In our tough loss against TNT, hindi kami ‘yun kasi we always compete. Nung first and second quarters, andun pa kami against TNT but nawala (after). I don’t know if it’s just rust (from the long break),” said Tubid.

“Ang mantra namin sa team namin is compete. As long as we do that, may chances kaming manalo,” he added.

Playing true to it resulted in success and a couple of milestones for Terrafirma and its stalwarts.

The Dyip’s 146 was their franchise highest in a game, ditto their 42 in the first period, 77 at the half and 115 through three quarters.

Later, defending champion TNT unleashed a huge second-half surge to beat San Miguel Beer, 116-98, and seal a Last-8 berth at 6-4. The Beermen dropped to 7-3.