Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson. –PBA IMAGES
Juami Tiongson fired 37 points as Terrafirma caught fire in the second half to take a 110-96 victory over NLEX in the PBA On Tour on Friday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Tiongson hit seven triples, including four after halftime which saw the Dyip wrest control of the seesaw affair to record their second win in five matches in the exhibition series.
The performance continued the exhilarating showing being put up by Tiongson despite the On Tour being non-bearing affairs and used as buildup for the season-opener in October.
Through five games, Tiongson has averaged 24.4 points on 44-percent shooting.
Three more players scored in double figures for coach Johnedel Cardel’s squad, namely Gelo Alolino, Andreas Cahilig, Allen Mina and Eric Camson.
Terrafirma’s Gelo Alolino. –PBA IMAGES
Alolino scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half, Cahilig had 13 points and 14 rebounds, Camson posted 12 points and six rebounds while Mina made eight of his 12 points in the second half for Terrafirma.
NLEX lost for the fourth time in five games, spoiling strong games from two of its main weapons in Don Trollano and Kevin Alas.
Trollano posted 20 points on 9-of-20 shooting with four rebounds while Alas finished with 15, including a halfcourt shot that beat the buzzer which put NLEX in front 53-52 at the break.
Ben Adamos added 13 points and nine rebounds, continuing his solid numbers since being acquired from Phoenix to reunite with former college coach Frankie Lim.
The Road Warriors, who fielded just nine players, took a 65-58 lead in the first three minutes of the third before Tiongson led a Dyip uprising.
The scores:
TERRAFIRMA 110—Tiongson 37, Alolino 14, Cahilig 13, Mina 12, Camson 12, Go 6, Calvo 6, Ramos 4, Alanes 3, Taladua 3, Gomez de Liano 0, Grospe 0.
NLEX 96—Trollano 20, Alas 15, Adamos 13, Pascual 10, Doliguez 10, Rosales 9, Anthony 9, Fajardo 8, Nieto 2.
Quarters: 18-22, 52-53, 85-76, 110-96.