When the Terrafirma Dyip come up on a PBA team’s schedule, it’s often a time when teams feel they can let their guard down, test and tweak lineups, and chalk up a win even before tipoff. But for one game, things took a different turn.
The Dyip played the role of giant killers in handing the NLEX Road Warriors their first loss in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup. When both teams first met earlier in the conference, the Road Warriors came away with a one-point victory, but this time, Terrafirma finished the job. The Dyip were aggressive for much of the game and while NLEX took the lead at one point, Terrafirma would not be denied their signature victory of the Governors’ Cup thus far.
On paper, the Dyip have put together a solid core in Juami Tiongson, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Geo Chiu. Part of it has come from trades that have drawn the ire of other PBA teams and fans, but Ahanmisi and Tiongson are not throwaway players. They have proven to be solid contributors on championship teams and now with Terrafirma, they have taken on expanded roles and continue to prove they can help bring wins.
Justin Strings has also been a huge help for the Dyip not just because of his ability to do a little bit of everything, but also because of how he sets the tone for the squad. He goes to work without any fanfare or complaints and exploits matchups and scoring opportunities with ease. Strings has definitely made life easier for Terrafirma and it’s clear they feed off his play.
Chiu has been able to withstand the rigors of the PBA trenches and while he does not have a flashy game, he’s a solid building block for a squad that is finding its footing. It would be a shame if the Dyip sent him to another contender, because it would mean they would have to go on another rebuild while other teams reap the benefits of their early efforts in development. And of course, Terrafirma will be back in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
In taking down the only undefeated team in the league, a fine start may be an apt description for how the Terrafirma Dyip began the second half of their PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup preliminary round campaign. However, they can’t rest on their laurels because the other teams have also become wiser following their first go-arounds against their opponents.
With the tools at their disposal, the potential to go deep into the conference is there, but the Dyip will have to resist the urge to hit the reset button again. Hopefully, recent developments will convince them to break the cycle for good.
