Terrafirma gets elusive win at expense of Blackwater, stays alive for playoff spot

Terrafirma’s CJ Perez. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—TerraFirma stopped its dreadful seven-game losing streak after holding off Blackwater, 110-101, in the PBA Philippine Cup Friday at Angeles University Foundation.

The Dyip not only improved to a 1-7 card but they also remained active in the hunt for a playoff spot—although their fate now resides on the other teams’ results.

It was a slugfest in the fourth quarter with TerraFirma doing its hardest to maintain a lead that never reached 10 points.

TerraFirma held a 98-92 lead midway through the fourth courtesy of CJ Perez’ and-one play as he teamed up with Juami Tiongon to keep the Elite at bay.

Tiongson hit a three that pushed the Dyip up 108-101 with 1:15 left effectively icing the game.

“I don’t want to go home 0-11 and we should win to get rid of the homesickness,” said Dyip head coach Johnedel Cardel. “Keeping them motivated was hard because 0-7 is not a joke, but we talk a lot as a team and I told them to just play basketball, teamwork basketball.”

“Fortunately the players weren’t down on themselves.”

Perez finished with 27 points, four rebounds, three steals, and two blocks to lead the Dyip while 2019’s top overall pick Roosevelt Adams had a monster affair on the glass coming up with 20 points and 16 boards to go along two steals.

Juami Tiongson also had a stellar outing for TerraFirma with 19 points while Eric Camson and JP Calvo added 11 points apiece.

Niño Canaleta had 29 points and seven rebounds to lead Blackwater, which dropped to its 2-6.