By REYNALD MAGALLON
At this point in the past 16 conferences, Terrafirma players are likely already booking their plane tickets to Boracay or any other tourist spot for their respective vacation.
Not this time.
The only ticket they are punching is the one that leads towards the franchise’s very first playoff appearance in the Philippine Cup – something that is thrilling for Terrafirma main man Juami Tiongson.
“Usually Boracay na kami nito e, most of the time, at this time of the conference, nasa Boracay na kami nagbabakasyon na kami so just to be able to have that chance and opportunity to play in a knockout game (naexcite ako),” said Tiongson after Terrafirma’s playoff-clinching 104-96 win over NorthPort.
Tiongson made sure to steer Terrafirma to their first playoff appearance in eight years, dropping 30 points including a tough and-1 play that gave his team the breathing room against the rallying NorthPort with a little over a minute left.
The 33-year-old high scoring guard said he was really motivated to help Terrafirma to reach the playoffs, not only for the franchise but more importantly for head coach John Cardel who has been subject to criticisms during the team’s losing conferences.
“Sobrang happy ako para sa sarili ko at sa team lalong lalo na kay coach John,” said Tiongson.
“Alam naman natin yung mga hatred comments na nakukuha niya parati, na hindi naman niya kasalanan. {ara sa kanya talaga ito, ako personally gusto ko manalo para kay coach John,” he added.
The Dyip are expected to traverse through an uncharted territory in the playoffs especially against tall odds versus the top seed and twice-to-beat San Miguel.
But Tiongson is nowhere fazed.
“Just play to have fun kasi yung team namin, when we are having fun, we enjoy each other, maganda yung takbo ng game. Obviously, from the first to 15th man alam natin na any team pwede sila magstart so just be aggressive pa rin from the start,” Tiongson said of the looming quarters clash with the Beermen.
“Malay naman natin bilog naman ang bola e,” he added.
