The Terrafirma Dyip snapped a six-game skid on Saturday by drubbing the Macau Black Knights 102-84 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. With the win, Terrafirma moves to 4-6, which is good enough for ninth in the standings and a game behind the Magnolia Hotshots and San Miguel Beermen. With the loss, Macau dropped to 2-9 in what has been a forgettable guesting in this PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
What Happened?
The two teams all but traded baskets and defensive stops in the opening frame, with the Dyip winning it eventually 21-20 on the back of six early points from Geo Chiu and seven from Jerrick Ahanmisi. It was much of the same in the second, with both teams picking up the scoring but staying in lockstep with each other. The younger Ahanmisi spearheaded the Dyip in the second quarter again, firing 11 more points, while Ramon Cao countered with 22 on four 4-pointers to keep Macau within 54-53 entering halftime.
The third quarter unraveled in the same way as Terrafirma and Macau continued to be neck-and-neck. Scoring slowed down somewhat, but the score remained too close for comfort, with the Dyip ending it ahead 78-77. Terrafirma then started the final frame with an 8-0 spurt to create some separation, 86-77. That cushion proved to be all the Dyip needed as Macau, which saw star player Damian Chong Qui inexplicably leave the venue before the start of the fourth, couldn’t muster a comeback.
Who Stood Out?
Jerrick Ahanmisi shone brightest for the Dyip, filling the stat sheet with 29 points, 1 rebound, 8 assists, and 2 steals on an efficient 12-for-19 clip. Chiu also played perhaps his best game as a rookie, putting up a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double on 6-for-9 shooting.
Ramon Cao, on the other hand, shone bright as well for Macau, firing 27 points on the strength of that sizzling 22-point second quarter. He got little support, however, as Jenning Leung and Phoenix Shackelford went silent. Chong Qui, meanwhile, had 8 points and 7 assists before he left his team hanging.
3 Keys to the Game
- Shooting. For the game, Terrafirma shot a blistering 51.7% compared to Macau’s paltry 36.8%. That disparity was in part due to the Dyip playing good defense in spurts, particularly in the final frame, and in part due to Macau failing to execute and settling for poor shots.
- Turnovers. The Black Knights turned the ball over 13 times, which isn’t bad per se. But Terrafirma did better, coughing it up just 7 times. This resulted in a 17-6 advantage for the Dyip in points off turnovers.
- Interior scoring. With Macau having no rim protector, Terrafirma had a field day in the paint, where they scored 66 points as opposed to the Black Knights’ 26.
Next Up for the PBA
Sunday, May 3, 2026 | Smart Araneta Coliseum
Meralco Bolts vs. Blackwater Bossing (5:15 p.m.)
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters vs. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (7:30 p.m.)
