WELCOME to the PBA playoffs, Stephen Holt and the Terrafirma Dyip.
Playing with a lot of confidence, the eighth-seeded Dyip stunned the mighty Beermen,106-95, to send their Philippine Cup quarterfinal to a sudden death.
Juami Tiongson scored 29 points, Holt added 25 and Isaac Go 22 as the Dyip threatened to pull off one of the biggest upsets in PBA playoffs history.
Ever.
That would be nothing short of spectacular, considering the Beermen lost just one game in the eliminations and the Dyip had to go through a do-or-die game just to reach the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history.
However, Coach Johnedel Cardel prefers not to get ahead of the story.
"Of course, it's a different story. This is a champion team (San Miguel). So we'll just do our part," said Cardel, who won his first-ever playoff game as a coach.
"We'll review the videos and analyze our mistakes rather than focusing solely on our successes."
June Mar Fajardo contributed 21 points and 16 rebounds, with CJ Perez adding 20 for the Beermen, who were heavily favored to breeze past a Terrafirma side that hadn't reached the quarterfinals in the last eight seasons.
However, the Dyip managed to spread out the San Miguel defense with their 37 percent shooting from beyond the arc (15-of-40), led by Go, Holt, and Tiongson.
Go went 6-for-11 from three-point range, Holt shot 4-of-8, and Tiongson hit 3-of-9, including a step-back three-pointer with Terrence Romeo all over him, extending the Dyip's lead to 102-91 with 2:32 left to play.
"That's our offense," said the 27-year-old Go. "That's what we have to do to beat a juggernaut like San Miguel."
The last time a top seed team was eliminated in the quarterfinals was five years ago when the eighth-seeded NorthPort showed the door to NLEX in triple overtime, 126-123.
The winner-take-all match for a spot in the semis is scheduled for Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The scores
Terrafirma (106) -Tiongson 29, Holt 25, Go 22, Gomez de Liano 15, Cahilig 6, Ramos 4, Carino 3, Camson 2, Alolino 0, Sangalang 0.
San Miguel (95) - Fajardo 21, Perez 20, Cruz 11, Lassiter 10, Romeo 9, Tautuaa 8, Ross 5, Brondial 4, Trollano 4, Manuel 0.
Quarterscores: 27-26; 54-49; 82-73; 106-95.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
