MANILA – Terrafirma Dyip caught Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings flat footed as they pulled off a massive 91-85 upset win in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
Javi Gomez de Liano made a huge impact for the Dyip with 22 points, including three three-point conversions, to go with six rebounds and three blocks to be named Player of the Game.
Gomez de Liano, who was originally drafted by the Gin Kings in 2022 before being shipped to the Dyip for Jeremiah Gray, said their strong second half head start was a key to complete their come-from-behind win.
“I think it is a collective effort by the team,” Gomez de Liano said. “Then, based on our history, we tend to lose our lead (against Ginebra) in the second half, so we make sure if sino ‘yung maglalaro sa start ng second half will make an impact already.”Juan Miguel Tiongson top-scored for the Dyip with 25 points, with three outside conversions, while rookies Stephen Holt and Kemark Carino contributed 12 markers apiece as the Dyip improved to a 4-3 win-loss slate.
Christian Standhardinger finished with 21 points before being curiously benched for the majority of the second half, Japeth Aguilar added 18 markers, while LA Tenorio and Jamie Malonzo contributed 11 and 10, respectively, as the Gin Kings dropped to 3-3.
Meanwhile, NLEX Road Warriors leaned on a blazing start before holding off Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 87-74, to move up to solo second place with 5-1 record. The Hotshots dropped to 1-2.
The Road Warriors were on fire in the opening quarter as they surged to a 19-5 start behind outside hits by Robert Bolick Jr. and Anthony Semerad. The Hotshots, however, countered with a run to cut the deficit to 37-43 early in the third quarter.
NLEX, however, regained its offense with three-point connections from Semerad, Bolick, and Matt Nieto for a 67-47 lead, which later grew to its biggest at 71-47 on a Elvin Jake Pascual connection.
Bolick led the way for the Road Warriors with 26 points, nine assists, and three rebounds, while Semerad contributed a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds in the win./PN
BOX SCORE:
TERRAFIRMA 91 – Tiongson 25, Gomez de Liano 22, Carino 12, Holt 12, Go 9, Sangalang 7, Cahilig 2, Alolino 2, Olivario 0, Calvo 0, Ramos 0.
GINEBRA 85 – Standhardinger 21, J. Aguilar 18, Tenorio 11, Malonzo 10, Onwubere 9, Ahanmisi 6, Pessumal 6, Pringle 2, Cu 2, Pinto 0, R. Aguilar 0.
Quarterscores: 24-17, 41-40, 64-61, 91-85.
