Terrafirma Dyip’s Stephen Holt leads stunning of San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. –PBA IMAGES
Stephen Holt and Terrafirma stunning win that allowed them to force San Miguel Beer into a do-or-die match in their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals seemed like a message sent across the league and its fans.
“This is what you want; you want a competitive league,” Holt addressed the crowd in a postgame interview after the Dyip’s 106-95 win Saturday at Rizal Memorial Coliseum. “You want parity, and we hear you.”
Holt and the Dyip defied expectations of being handed out an early exit by the top seed Beermen, and the last team to qualify for the quarters through a playoff with the NorthPort Batang Pier came out and ball.
READ: Stephen Holt determined to tow Terrafirma to places
Not only was Holt playing like there’s no tomorrow, so was team’s undisputed leader Juami Tiongson, Isaac Go and Javi Gomez de Liano as Terrafirma won a playoff game for the first time in franchise history.
But they’re far from satisfied.
“This is what you guys want? You guys want a competitive league. You want parity.”
Stephen Holt tells the audience during one of the scenes following Terrafirma’s win over San Miguel Beer that forced a rubber match in the PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals. | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/S7zpznkeCH
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) May 11, 2024
“Just want to come here and compete and give a good product for you guys, and we got one more on Wednesday,” said the top overall pick of the Rookie Draft who finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Terrafirma and San Miguel dispute a spot in the semis Wednesday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, the winner to face either TNT or Rain or Shine in a best-of-seven affair.
READ: PBA: Terrafirma shocks San Miguel to force do-or-die in playoffs
The Dyip bucked a slow start and led by five at the half, before building double-digit leads that the Beermen tried but failed to erase.
“We were confident,” said Holt. “We were taking shots, making shots and were able to get tough shots and get stops when we needed to so I’m proud of my guys.”