Ending its run with a bang

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ANTIPOLO CITY. — Terrafirma rookie playmaker Mark Nonoy asked for isolation in the team’s final offensive thrust against a suddenly listless TNT side Wednesday night.

A few feet behind the four-point line and the clock ticking in the third quarter, Nonoy launched a four against fellow lefty Rey Nambatac that initially bounced off the ring before going in.

Saving their best for last, the Dyip stunned the Tropang Giga, eking out a 117-108 victory as the curtains fell on their campaign in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center here.

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In stark contrast to Terrafirma which had seemingly all its shots finding the bottom of the net, two-time best import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of TNT promptly left the court and went straight to the locker room after committing a foul on Nonoy in the final 57 seconds.

Dyip coach Raymond Tiongco heaved a big sigh of relief after his team got the job done.

“Sobrang thankful kay God. Masaya at least doon sa dulo, ngayon, from first to fourth quarter nakuha ko na,” Tiongco said. “Lalo na noong third quarter, how we shared the ball hanggang doon sa nakalamang kami ng almost 31. At least magandang dadalhin iyan para sa All-Filipino Conference.

“May future naman ang team. Maaga lang siguro kaming magpre-prepare para maayos namin iyong chemistry namin. Ang lapses namin ay laging sa dulo,” he added.

A former La Salle standout, Nonoy dazzled with 33 points, to go with four rebounds, and four assists while reinforcement Brandon Edwards chipped in 19 markers, 12 boards, and six dimes.

Louie Sangalang, Aljun Melecio, and Kemark Carino also did their part with 16, 10, and 10 points, respectively, for the Dyip who ended their run in the mid-season tourney with a 1-11 record.

The loss halted the Tropang Giga’s six-game winning streak, counting a 91-86 triumph over the Ginebra Kings Friday last week for a 6-3 mark.

Terrafirma grabbed a 61-50 lead at the half and padded this to 99-70 going into the final quarter.

A Nonoy quad stretched the Dyip’s edge to as much as 103-72 with 11:03 before fending off a mini-TNT rally late in the tiff.

Hollis-Jefferson paced the Tropang Giga with 41 points, 10 caroms, and three feeds while Calvin Oftana added 17 and three.

Nambatac and Jayson Castro also got 12 and 11 markers, respectively, for TNT.

While it was way too late, Terrafirma’s win should somehow serve as a big consolation to the Dyip’s continued woes in their pro league stint.

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