By REYNALD MAGALLON
With Javi Gomez De Liano and Stephen Holt both putting up career-best performances, it was Aldrech Ramos who emerged as the biggest hero for Terrafirma by scoring the go-ahead basket with 3.7 seconds left to pull off a nail-biting 113-112 escape over NLEX in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Saturday, Nov. 18.
Tied at 111-all, the veteran forward collared a huge rebound of a Holt miss and scored on a clutch putback to push the Dyip back on the driver’s seat and notch their second straight win in three outings.
Still, Terrafirma had to hold their breaths until the final second as NLEX import Thomas Robinson was sent to the foul line in the Road Warriors’ final possession following a foul called on Andreas Cahilig with 1.3 seconds left.
The NBA veteran, scoring on his will all-game long against the Dyip defense, however, botched the second of his two freethrows allowing Terrafirma to come away with the win.
Ramos only had four points, but it was the loudest points in the contest that was highlighted by several big scoring performances.
Gomez De Liano, sustained what is appearing to be a breakout season for him, erupted for 31 points built on four triples to keep the Dyip within striking distance in the first three quarters.
Holt, who also broke out of his shooting slump, finished with 21 points including a personal 5-0 run that gave Terrafirma a 110-102 lead.
NLEX, though, refused to go down without a fight, unloading a last ditch 9-1 rally to suddenly tie the game at 111-all with 10 seconds remaining.
That, however, only set the table for Ramos’ heroics as Robinson saw his 40-point showing go down the drain with a huge free throw miss in the waning seconds.
Phoenix also held on against a desperate late rally from Rain or Shine to eke out an 89-88 victory and pick up its second win.
The Fuel Masters unloaded a furious 16-0 run to open the final frame and establish a double-digit spread enough to weather a late Elasto Painters storm and improve to a 2-1 record in the standings.
Johnathan Williams had an all-around game of 29 points, 18 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks, outplaying his counterpart Dajuan Summers who battled through foul trouble for the most part of the second half.
Jayson Perkins chalked up 14 points and seven rebounds while Tyler Tio and Sean Manganti added 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Phoenix led by as many as 12 points, 90-78, early in the payoff period but almost completely vanished after Rain or Shine retaliated with a 12-3 attack that cut the deficit back to three, 93-90, with a little over two minutes left.
The Fuel Masters regained some footing after baskets from Javee Mocon and Williams gave them a seven-point cushion, but back-to-back triples from Jhonard Clarito and Santi Santillan had the Elasto Painters knocking on the door, 88-89, with 33 seconds remaining.
A huge battle for the loose ball then ensued in the next possession after Williams missed a potential dagger. Bodies went flying on the floor as Tio recovered the leather and passed it to his import with only 1.3 ticks left in the clock.
