JUAMI Tiongson wishes the Terrafirma franchise well as it goes into the new PBA season with its fate still hanging in the balance.
Tiongson admitted feeling for all the personnel involved, especially if ever the sale of the Dyip lock, stock, and barrel gets to be formalized during the offseason.
At the moment, the Zamboanga Valientes are in serious talks to buy the Terrafirma team that just finished its campaign in Season 49 on a losing note.
“I just wish them well. Siyempre lahat naman yun kaibigan ko, naging pamilya ko na rin,” said Tiongson Wednesday after San Miguel’s 100-97 loss to Converge in the Philippine Cup.
READ: Converge averts collapse against SMB, steers clear of No. 8 seed
Tiongson, 34, once served as the face of the franchise the moment he arrived after being traded by NorthPort for Fil-Am guard Jerramy King.
The Ateneo product eventually played a major role in steering the Dyip to their first playoff appearance in eight years when the team made the quarterfinals of last season’s Philippine Cup, teaming up with the likes of Rookie of the Year Stephen Holt, Andreas Cahilig, Isaac Go, and Javi Gomez de Liano.
But eventually, the core was broken up beginning this season.
Gomez de Liano didn’t pick up the contract renewal offered to him and instead, decided to take his act to the Korean Basketball League.
Holt and Go were then traded to Barangay Ginebra for Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, before Tiongson and Cahilig followed suit to San Miguel for Terrence Romeo and Vic Manuel.
Terrafirma's final destination
And even though he’s finally with a title contending team, Tiongson couldn’t help but feel for his former family in the light of the ongoing negotiations for the sale of Terrafirma.
If ever it finally pushes through, he has one wish for the new owner.
“If ever man mabenta yung Terrafirma, sana alagaan yung utility, players, and yung coaching staff kasi pinaghirapan din naman nila yun, deserve naman nila na makakuha ng panibagong contract whether its with another team or kung sino man yung bibili sa kanila,” said Tiongson.
“Kahit yung mga ballboys doon sobrang close ko sa kanila, so yun talaga ang wino-worry ko sila. Sana bigyan pa rin sila ng chance and opportunity if ever man sa susunod na bibili ng Terrafirma.”
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