TERRAFIRMA finally picked up the win that has eluded them in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup, especially in the past two games, beating first-place TNT, 84-72, on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Stanley Pringle rescued the Dyip with key baskets in the fourth quarter to upend the Tropang Giga and claim their first win after nine games, their last two losses decided by only a point.
At the same time, Terrafirma ended an 18-game losing streak against TNT. The former's last win over the latter came in August 26, 2016 when the then-Mahindra Enforcer defeated the onetime KaTropa, 107-104, in the Governors’ Cup.
Even more impressive, Pringle and Co. did all of it with import Antonio Hester on the bench for majority of the final frame, as he dealt with a hand injury. The reinforcement still wound up with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
But Pringle stepped up for the Dyip, ending up with all but five of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including a stretch where he scored 10 consecutive points.
Hester’s absence in the final moments was already on top of the Dyip's other key losses in Christian Standhardinger and Juami Tiongson who were also out due to respective injuries.
“It worked na sinabi ko na takbuhan namin, and then the defense follows,” said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel. “All my players, talagang dedicated sa defense. They communicate. Even ‘yung mga small things, creating for teammates, I credit all the players."
Technically doesn't change anything for TNT
The Tropang Giga succumbed to their second defeat in nine games in essentially a no-bearing contest, as they have already secured the top spot in Group A.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and nine steals for TNT, which is coming off a one-day rest after barely edging Magnolia, 84-82.
Roger Pogoy added 23 for the Tropang Giga, who sorely missed the production of Calvin Oftana as he only supplied five points on 2-of-14 shooting from the field.
The scores:
TERRAFIRMA 84 – Hester 22, Pringle 18, Sangalang 10, Cahilig 8, Ramos 7, Hanapi 7, Hernandez 6, Ferrer 2, Olivario 2, Carino 2.
TNT 72 – Hollis-Jefferson 25, Pogoy 23, Oftana 5, Erram 4, Varilla 3, Nambatac 3, Payawal 3, Williams 2, Castro 2, Khobuntin 2, Vosotros 0, Heruela 0, Exciminiano 0.
Quarters: 15-18; 32-36; 50-57; 84-72.
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