Terrafirma now 2-0 in PBA PH Cup after stunning NLEX

Juami Tiongson put up a solid game for the now 2-0 Terrafirma squad. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Don't look now, but Terrafirma is off to a good start again.

The Dyip joined the Blackwater Bossing as the surprise top teams in the PBA Philippine Cup standings after taking down the NLEX Road Warriors, 99-95, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Terrafirma turned the tides in the second half, outscoring NLEX, 52-38, to steal the win, although the latter had its chances.

Just down two, 95-93. entering the last two minutes, Robert Bolick had a chance to give the Road Warriors the lead, but he missed a three-point shot.

Sean Anthony then blew a wide-open layup that could have tied the game following Enoch Valdez's offensive rebound as cramps seemingly caught up on Anthony while on his way up.

Isaac Go, off Anthony's frustration foul, nailed two free throws to give the Dyip a 97-93 cushion with 58 seconds left, but Dave Marcelo scored on a quick layup to cut the lead down to two again.

NLEX got another chance to tie the game again after Juami Tiongson was called for an offensive foul after warding Semerad off on his drive to the basket.

However, Bolick could not handle Marcelo's hand-off pass and lost the ball in the process, and JP Calvo iced the game with two more free throws with 22 seconds left.

The Road Warriors still could not convert on the other end.

Tiongson led Terrafirma, which is off to its best start since going 4-0 to begin the 2016 Governors' Cup, with 21 points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while Javi Gomez De Liano added 18 points, three rebounds, and five assists.

Bolick finished with 29 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and one steal for NLEX, which dropped to 1-1.

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