TERRAFIRMA unfurled the conference by finally winning its first game over Converge, 107-99, on Friday in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Juami Tiongson and Stephen Holt led the Dyip to their first-ever victory over Converge in franchise history, winning the game on the fifth try and since the FiberXers entered the PBA in 2022.
Tiongson had 30 points, while Holt had nine of his 27 points in the first quarter for the Dyip, who led by as many as 24 points in an auspicious start to the squad which has not reached the playoffs over the past 17 conferences.
The FiberXers lost to start off the new conference after beating the Dyip in their lone win of the Commissioner’s Cup last December.
“First time ko manalo dito sa Converge eh, so we are happy about that,” said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel.
"We started early, we worked out their skills. Nagbunga dito sa game, but better thing doon is naayos namin ‘yung defense namin. Sa tao-tao, talo kami. But we can do this sa team defense, collapsing defense, and scramble defense para hindi mag-worry ‘yung mga maliliit na players and that the help will come,” said Cardel.
Isaac Go had 13 points, while Gelo Alolino and Javi Gomez de Liano chipped in 10 points apiece for the Dyip.
Alec Stockton had 18 points, while Justin Arana had 18 points and six rebounds for the FiberXers.
The scores:
Terrafirma 107 – Tiongson 30, Holt 27, Go 13, Alolino 10, Gomez de Liano 10, Sangalang 9, Calvo 6, Ramos 2, Cahilig 0, Camson 0, Mina 0.
Converge 99 – Stockton 18, Arana 18, Winston 17, Santos 14, Fornilos 8, Ambohot 7, Balanza 5, Melecio 5, Zaldivar 3, Maagdenberg 2, Caralipio 2, Vigan-Fleming 0, Nieto 0, Delos Santos 0.
Quarters: 27-21; 56-44; 86-75; 107-99.
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