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| Terrafirma hustled so hard en route to a new PBA rebounding record. PBA Images |
ANTIPOLO—With no import activated for Friday night after James Milton failed to get cleared in time, Titan Ultra faced a tall order against Terrafirma at the start of the PBA Governors' Cup.
The Dyip made the tall order literal, though.
Terrafirma made sure their size advantage, led by import Justin Springs and star rookie big men Geo Chiu and JM Bravo, would not be put to waste as the team grabbed one rebound after another in the 113-100 win at the Ynares Center 1.
The result: 94 total boards, which, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, is the new single-game record in the league's 51-year history.
Ginebra, then known as Gilbey's Gin, held the previous PBA rebounding record when the team grabbed 87 rebounds against Toyota in a 148-139 win during the 1983 Reinforced Conference, the predecessor to the Governors' Cup.
Leading the way in hustling for the rebound was Chiu, who collared a career-high 23 caroms alongside 19 points, also a PBA career-high.
"Nawalan kami ng mga players, so yung mentality is just step up lang. And today, ako yung nakapag-step up," Chiu said.
He deflected his dominating performance, though, to a string of luck, saying that his fellow Dyip players can do the same in the upcoming games.
"Any given day naman, yung mga teammates ko, kaya namang mag-step up. Kumbaga today, araw ko lang siguro tapos sa susunod na araw, teammates ko naman," Chiu said.
He added that his stint on Friday night is an early sign that his improved patience is paying off.
"Kailangan ko lang maging patient at saka magtiwala sa sarili. Si Coach Ronald (Tubid) naman, araw-araw akong sinasabihan na magtiwala lang sa sarili ko at saka be strong lang," Chiu further said.
Up next for Terrafirma is NLEX, which also got off to a winning start this conference by ripping Macau by a franchise record 39 point final margin.
