In the first meeting between the Terrafirma Dyip and the NLEX Road Warriors in this PBA Governors’ Cup, the Dyip were just one basket away from winning the game. However, Justin Strings missed the game-winning three-pointer at the horn.
In the rematch on Friday, Terrafirma finished what it couldn’t in the first outing, hacking out a 114-109 win in a game that again went down the wire. And for Juami Tiongson, playing honest defense in the endgame keyed the Dyip’s stunning upset of NLEX.
“It’s more on playing honest defense in the end game. I mean, if you see our free throw differences compared to other teams, ang laki ng difference,” Tiongson told reporters.
In this game, there was still a big free throw difference, although it favored Terrafirma as Tiongson and company shot 21-for-31 from the stripe as against 9-for-13 for NLEX. Importantly, in the fourth quarter, the Dyip surrendered just two free throws, both of which Kevin Alas converted.
Terrafirma Learns Its Lessons
Tiongson added that the victory would not have been possible if the Dyip had not learned from their mistakes in their game against the Macau Giant Pandas, which they lost, 96-92, in yet another close game.
“When we played Macau, it was 30 to 10 [free throw difference], and that can’t happen kasi that’s 20 more free points for the other team,” Tiongson added.
Macau actually outshot Terrafirma from the foul line, 29-10, and it led to a 19 to 7 advantage in free throws made. And in the fourth quarter alone, Macau went to the free-throw line 12 times.
That didn’t happen again against NLEX, and the result was a win. Now, Terrafirma will be looking to carry over that lesson once more into their next game against the Converge FiberXers on August 11 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
