GONE are the days when Terrafirma was usually the pro league’s whipping boys.
With a renewed zest and a line-up that coach Johnedel Cardel described as his strongest in his six-year stint, the Dyip are now showing they have what it takes.
“The way they show even in practice every day, they compete. Nakikita ko this is a different team,” Cardel said. “This is an all-Filipino conference, so we have a good chance in getting that, gusto naming makapunta sa quarterfinals.
“Ito iyong pinaka-kompleto, malaki with Isaac (Go) and (Kemark) Cariño, of course, our veteran Aldrech Ramos, Javi (Gomez de Liaño), Andreas Cahilig. Big addition si (Stephen) Holt. He’s a leader. He can score and Juami (Tiongson) remains consistent,” he added.
Cardel spoke after Terrafirma pulled off a stunning 91-85 victory over Ginebra last Sunday night for their fourth win, boosting their quarterfinal bid in the PBA Philippine Cup.
“Siguro, the players really wanted na manalo kami. This is very important to us. Kasi if we lose in this game, masyadong mababaon na kami,” Cardel said.
“We won the game, so kailangan siguro one more or two more games para makapasok kami sa quarterfinals.”
The triumph made up for a heartbreaking 83-86 loss to the Meralco Bolts six days back and stoked the Dyip’s mark to 4-3 for solo fourth.
Ginebra fell for the second time in a row after losing to reigning champion San Miguel Beer 92-95 last Friday.
Terrafirma prevailed over the Kings for only the second time in 23 duels and the first since the Philippine Cup bubble in Bacolor three years ago.
“It’s a big morale (boost) to our team but I guess at the moment we can’t relax. We know we need to get at least two more to be safe,” the vastly improved Dyip wingman Gomez de Liaño, who torched Ginebra with 22 points, said.
“In the next games, we’re gonna take it one game at a time and continue to play for each other, play for our coaches in trying to get those wins.”
Tiongson sizzled with 25 markers built on three three-pointers, on top of four rebounds, and four assists for Terrafirma, while Holt chipped in 12 markers, 11 boards, and six dimes.
Cariño also added 12 and five for the Dyip.
“We need everybody na tumulong pa rin. Hindi pa ito iyong makakapasok sa quarterfinals,” he said.
“We have four more games, and we practice again for a big game tomorrow against San Miguel.”
Christian Standhardinger paced Ginebra with 21 points and seven caroms, while Japeth Aguilar had 18 markers and five rebounds.
LA Tenorio and Jamie Malonzo also got 11 and 10 points, respectively for the Kings.
