FOR the first time in eight years, Terrafirma is in the PBA playoffs.
The Dyip turned back the Northport Batang Pier in their sudden-death showdown, 104-96, to claim the last quarterfinals berth in the Philippine Cup on Wednesday night.
Juami Tiongson had 18 of his game-high 30 points in the first half while Juan Gomez De Liano scored 10 straight points in a 13-2 run that turned a four-point deficit into a 95-88 lead with 4:02 remaining from where the Dyip never turned back.
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Terrafirma will now meet top seed San Miguel in the playoffs, with the Beermen, who lost just once in the eliminations, enjoying twice-to-beat advantage.
Nonetheless, it’s a moment the Dyip will be savoring as it marked their first playoffs appearance since the 2016 Governors’s Cup- and first under current head coach Johnedel Cardel.
“Ever since I came to Terrafirma, it’s always a personal goal of mine to help the team reach the playoffs,” said Gomez De Liano, who finished with 21 points and seven rebounds for the Dyip.
The loss was a bitter one for Northport, which held a seven-point lead and was still up 86-82 with 9:52 to go before Terrafirma came through with that telling run.
Rookies Zid Lucero and Cade Flores showed the way for the Batang Pier with 17 and 16 points apiece, while Joshua Munzon added 15.
Top gun Arvin Tolentino was held to just 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field, going scoreless in the fourth quarter. But he did have eight rebounds and four assists.
The scores:
Terrafirma (104) - Tiongson 30, Gomez de Liano 21, Holt 18, Go 13, Ramos 7, Carino 7, Sangalang 4, Alolino 2, Calvo 2, Camson 0, Mina 0, Cahilig 0.
Northport (96) - Lucero 17, Flores 16, Munzon 15, Tolentino 13, Zamar 10, Navarro 9, Amores 7, Yu 4, Rosales 2, Cuntapay 2, Adamos 1, Bulanadi 0, Chan 0.
Quarterscores: 27-33; 55-54; 82-81; 104-96.
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