By REYNALD MAGALLON
Terrafirma is determined to not let the chance to make it to the playoffs slip away from its hands after the Dyip finally breached the five-win mark in the conference for the first time under head coach Johndel Cardel
Unlike in the past conference when Terrafirma was usually playing catch up for the last playoff spot and leaving their fates to the hands of the other teams, the Dyip now still have complete control of their future thanks to the crucial 110-108 win over the NorthPort Batang Pier.
“Effort lang talaga ng mga players and they want naman talaga to improve yung winning namin. Palagi kami sa four (wins) the last time triple tie with Ginebra and Phoenix so naout kami by 0.2 points, so this time sabi ko manalo tayo sa Northport big chance yung getting into the quarterfinals,” said Cardel after the game.
“We have a chance now to get into the quarterfinals, so iga-grab na namin ‘to,” he stressed.
The Dyip did earn that chance to book a spot to the quarterfinals after Stephen Holt made the go-ahead basket with 3.1 seconds left to lift Terrafirma past NorthPort.
Without Juami Tiongson, Holt took over in the final possession as he blew by the defense of Joshua Munzon and Arvin Tolentino before shrugging off the challenge of Cade Flores and Damie Cuntapay to finish in traffic.
Holt wound up with 22 points while Tiongson added 21 but Terrafirma got solid contributions from Louie Sangalang, Isaac Go, Kemark Carino and Javi Gomez De Liano – something that Cardel felt made the difference in the win.
“Sabi ko di lang tayo pwedeng Holt or Juami kailangan dapat lahat mag contribute everybody should contribute. Pag mag contribute lahat iyan malaki chance namin manalo,” said Cardel.
“Every game, every single play, you got to use your head kasi kako lagi silang naka focus kay Holt at kay Juami so be ready to take that shot and be confident na papasok iyan,” he added.
Terrafirma can formally book an outright spot in the quarterfinals with its sixth win but it will be against powerhouse Magnolia in its final elimination assignment on Friday, May 3.
