PBA: Terrafirma stuns leader TNT for breakthrough first win

Terrfirma Dyip guard Stanley Pringle against TNT Tropang Giga defenders during a PBA Governors’ Cup game. –PBA IMAGES

The third time was finally a charm for Terrafirma as it finally ended its winless slate in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the expense of Group A leader TNT, 84-72, Thursday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Stanley Pringle scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as the Dyip caught the Tropang Giga on an off night and finally got into the win column after dropping their previous eight matches.

Terrafirma’s last two games came in heartbreaking fashion, falling short to Magnolia on import Shabazz Muhammad’s runner and against Converge on reinforcement Scotty Hopson’s four-pointer.

READ: PBA: TNT can’t look ahead to quarterfinals just yet, says Chot

Pringle and the Dyip won despite having to push through without import Antonio Hester, who got injured during the fourth that almost compounded their upset bid with Juami Tiongson and Christian Standhardinger also on the mend.

Hester had 22 points and 10 rebounds before the injury while sophomore banger Louie Sangalang added 10 for the Dyip.

TNT fell to 7-2 in a game which it led by as high as nine in the third quarter. The defeat, however, won’t put any dent in its playoff positioning since the Tropang Giga had already secured the No. 1 spot in Group A.

READ: Terrafirma struggling as Standhardinger deals with leadership woes

The loss spoiled the near triple-double of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who had 25 points, 11 rebounds and nine steals.

RR Pogoy had 23 points for TNT, but other key players like Calvin Oftana struggled for coach Chot Reyes’ crew.
Oftana only had five points on 2-of-14 shooting.