CHICAGO - Terrfirma Dyip's PBA tenure has mostly been defined by loss, misery, and a litany of perplexing personnel decisions that suggest an allergy to keeping their best players.
But the winds of change are blowing.
Not only are the Dyip in the playoffs for the first time in eight years, they've come to this unfamiliar place peaking and playing admirably well.
READ Terrafirma players so eager to shed 'loser' tag at long last
After outlasting twice-to-beat San Miguel, 106-95, in their quarterfinals match last Saturday, Terrafirma stands on the doorstep of pulling off a watershed moment for the franchise.
Another win over the No.1-ranked Beermen in their KO game on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium propels Terrafirma to the semifinals.
Once upon a time, the odds of Terrafirma edging San Miguel twice in five days seemed only like an episode of a Ripley's Believe It Or Not TV show.
NOT TODAY. NOT WITH THE ROSTER THEY HAVE.
Dyip's main driver, Stephen Holt, is a walking, dribbling oxymoron. Though listed as a PBA rookie at age 32, he is a veteran international baller who has played in the NBA Summer League and the NBL in Australia.
Averaging 21.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per, Holt is shooting at a remarkable 51.7 percent clip from the floor.
Juami Tiongson is a born scorer, swishing 22.4 points a contest. Unafraid of the big moments, his balls are bigger than the Molten he shoots.
And then there's Javier Gomez De Liano and his free-flowing hair that merits a shampoo commercial. Once a UP Maroon, he looks resplendent in Terrafirma green, averaging 15.9 points and 5.9 rebounds while hitting 39.2 percent from 3.
While obviously not lacking in star power, Terrafirma as a whole is an above average offensive team that is ranked No. 4 in points per game (97.4), No. 2 in 3-point shooting (34 percent) and No. 3 in field goal shooting (45.1 percent).
TERRAFIRMA'S DEFENSE, HOWEVER, IS MIDDLE OF THE PACK AND VULNERABLE.
They surrender 99.5 points per game (9th in the PBA) and they yield to the opposing team a ninth-ranked 44.5 percent clip.
This is a dent in the Dyip's armor that San Miguel, led by 7-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, can exploit.
The Beermen, rich in championship tradition and battle-tested in the crucible of the playoffs, are still the decided favorites to prevail.
But Terrafirma is a live underdog with more than just a puncher's chance.
A win washes away some of the stains in the Dyip's legacy. Most importantly, it reinforces hope that parity is looming in the PBA.
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.
