TERRAFIRMA put an end to the NLEX juggernaut by scoring the biggest upset in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup so far, 114-109, on a rainy Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Dyip went on a closing 9-0 blast over the final three minutes to clinch the all-important win and hand the Road Warriors their first loss in seven outings under new coach Jimmy Alapag.
READ Paraiso ‘coaches’ in huddle, then walks the talk as Dyip stun NLEX
Top rookie pick Geo Chiu and Brent Paraiso scored four each in that telling run by Terrafirma, which improved to a 3-4 (win-loss) record.
Paraiso finished with 18 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals. He had seven points in the final quarter including four straight points in the final 61 seconds that broke a 109-standoff and put the Dyip in front for good.
Import Justin Strings had a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds, along with six assists, Juami Tiongson added 20, and Maverick Ahanmisi chipped in 16 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, and three steals for Terrafirma.
“Brent was big for us. He had a great game today,” said Ahanmisi of Paraiso, who was seen leading the coaching huddle for the Dyip during one timeout.
“We really need guys from the bench to step up today. So I think he (Paraiso) heard it.”
NLEX came back from a 21-9 deficit and actually led, 109-105, with 3:11 remaining on JB Bahio’s final points for the game.
Robert Bolick led the Road Warriors with 20 points and eight assists, while Bahio also had 20 and a career-high 16 rebounds.
Import Dequan Jones was only good for 19 points this time for the Road Warriors.
“Match-up wise, we can match up with NLEX. We got lucky na lahat ng gusto naming gawin, nagawa namin,” said Terrafirma coach Ronald Tubid.
“Parang mirror namin itong NLEX.”
The scores
Terrafirma (114) - Strings 28, Tiongson 20, Paraiso 18, Bravo 16, Ahanmisi 15, Eriobu 8, Chiu 8, Hanapi 0, Mariano 0, Catapusan 0.
NLEX (109) - Bolick 20, Bahio 20, Jones 19, Winston 16, Gonzales 15, Gamboa 8, Alas 4, Nelle 3, Capulong 2, Valdez 2, Semerad 0, Rodger 0.
Quarterscores: 34-30; 60-65; 88-86; 114-109.
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