ANTIPOLO – Terrafirma completed a stunner against reigning champion TNT, 111-106, in overtime on Saturday in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Center.
The Dyip survived after being forced into overtime by the Tropang 5G, with Juami Tiongson, Joseph Eriobu, and Maverick Ahanmisi coming through in the clutch.
Terrafirma overcame a Jordan Heading follow-up with 0.3 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime to snap a two-game losing skid and improve to 2-3.
Tiongson powered Terrafirma's attack in overtime as the Dyip scored four straight three-point shots, with the returning guard hitting back-to-back to overcome a 104-98 deficit and shock TNT.
TNT has now lost second straight games, including against Titan Ultra, to fall to 1-2 at the start of their title-retention bid.
The Dyip showed tremendous composure after losing leads of 18 points, 56-38, in the third quarter, and six points, 94-88, with 1:05 left in regulation.
Aside from his late basket in regulation, Heading joined forces with RR Pogoy in presiding over a 10-4 start to overtime to post a 104-98 advantage.
But after those back-to-back treys by Tiongson, Eriobu knocked down the go-ahead three with 1:13 left, before Ahanmisi added the spread to 110-106 with 35.6 seconds with another trey from the right corner in front of the TNT bench.
The Dyip finally closed out a win after their past three losses were decided by five points or less including against powerhouse San Miguel in their previous game where they already had a three-point lead late in the contest only to see it go down the drain and lose, 109-104.
“Kulang lang ‘yung effort nung last three losses namin. Hinintay pa ng team na matambakan bago makahabol. Everyday in practice, ang sabi namin kaya naman natin as long as we always play our A game,” Terrafirma coach Ronald Tubid said.
Justin Strings topscored for Terrafirma with 36 points, while also grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out six assists in playing in all but 52 seconds in the 53-minute game.
Tiongson had 24 points on 5-of-7 from threes, while Ahanmisi had 20 points on 5-of-8 from threes, five rebounds, and six assists.
TNT, still without Calvin Oftana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Jayson Castro, and Poy Erram due to injuries, drew 29 points from Heading and 23 from Pogoy.
Darius Days struggled with 10 points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field and was in foul trouble all game.
The scores:
Terrafirma 111 – Strings 36, Tiongson 24, Ahanmisi 20, Bravo 9, Chiu 8, Eriobu 6, Umali 6, Mariano 2, Paraiso 0, Hanapi 0, Catapusan 0.
TNT 106 – Heading 29, Pogoy 23, Nambatac 19, Aurin 18, Days 10, Galinato 2, Hill 2, Ferrer 2, Khobuntin 1, Jalalon 0, Quitevis 0, Celzo 0, Enciso 0, Varilla 0.
Quarters: 19-20; 50-35; 72-61; 94-94; 111-106.
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