PBA: Terrafirma earns rare winning streak, clips NLEX

Javi Gomez de Liaño. PBA IMAGES

ANTIPOLO — Terrafirma played with steely nerves on Saturday to survive NLEX, 113-112, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup and get a streak going for the first time in a long while.

The Dyip pulled on the heroics of Javi Gomez de Liaño, who put up a career-high 31 points spiked with five rebounds, and veteran Aldrech Ramos who scored the go-ahead basket with three ticks remaining at Ynares Center here.

“They (the players) wanted to win this game before heading into the big game—against TNT. We had a bad start but we played hungry,” said head coach Johnedel Cardel.

NLEX import Thomas Robinson forged a deadlock in the final 10 seconds of the clash and had a chance to knot the affair once more with 1.3 left in the clock if not for the muffed second freebie.

Import Thomas de Thaey had 23 points and 16 rebounds before leaving the match due to a groin problem. Stephen Holt chipped in 21 points while Isaac Go had 17 as the perennial whipping boys improved to 2-1 in the race while notching their first back-to-back victory since the 2021 Philippine Cup.

Robinson finished with 40 points, unable to lead the Road Warriors to a streak of their own and dampen the early exit of Kevin Alas who buckled his left knee in the very venue where he suffered two career-threatening injuries.

Don Trollano had 19 points, Kris Rosales 13, while Sean Anthony and Mike Miranda 10 each for the Road Warriors who slid to 1-2 in the standings.

NLEX plays unbeaten NorthPort next.