JUAMI Tiongson buried the game-winning three pointer as Terrafirma completed a comeback from 19 points down and hacked out a 92-91 win over Blackwater on Saturday in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Tiongson scored the go-ahead basket with 12 seconds left after Rey Nambatac split his free throws that gave the Bossing a two-point cushion.
Blackwater still has a shot at the win, but RK Ilagan flubbed his own three-point attempt just before the final buzzer as the Dyip stole the win in the PBA's return to the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The win snapped the two-game skid of Terrafirma, which improved to 3-2 overall.
"Suwerte lang kami kasi na-miss ni (Rey) Nambatac yung free throw niya," said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel. "Anyway, I wanted the ball to end up with Juami or Stephen (Holt), yung mga ganung crucial (possesion). The Juami got the ball and yun pinanalo niya kami."
It was a heartbreaking second straight loss for Blackwater (3-2) after it led by as many as 59-40 in the third quarter.
But Tiongson, Holt, and Isaac Go kept the Dyip in the game and cut the deficit to just four entering the final quarter.
Holt, the top rookie pick in the last draft, finished with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Go had his best game of his pro career with 17 and seven rebounds.
Blackwater, which was led by the 23 of Troy Rosario, appeared ready to wrap up the game after Nambatac was send to the foul line with 22 seconds to go and the chance to hike the team's 90-89 lead.
He made the first free throw, but missed the second, with Andreas Cahilig securing the rebound before the Dyip went to Tiongson for the game-winning play.
The scores
Terrafirma (92) -- Holt 21, Tiongson 20, Go 17, Sangalang 8, Sangalang 8, Alolino 6, Gomez de Liano 6, Carino 5, Camson 4, Cahilig 3, Ramos 2, Calvo 0.
Blackwater (91) - Rosario 23, Ilagan 15, Suerte 12, Guinto 10, David 9, Nambatac 8, Tungcab 6, Hill 4, Yap 3, Escoto 0, Casio 0, Kwekuteye 0.
Quarterscores: 21-25; 38-54; 73-77; 92-91.
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.
