The Terrafirma Dyip and the Phoenix LPG Fuel Masters are on a collision course this Wednesday. Both teams are coming off losses, with the Fuel Masters still in search of their first win in the conference. Will the Dyip net their third victory? Or, will the Fuel Masters finally break into the win column?

Catch this game live on Wednesday,  March 13 at 7:30 pm, Manila time.

Terrafirma Dyip (2-1)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Gelo Alolino
  • Juami Tiongson
  • Stephen Holt
  • Aldrech Ramos
  • Isaac Go

The Dyip’s dreams for a 3-0 start to the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup got phased out last Saturday when they fell prey to the TNT Tropang Giga, 100-97. The score of that contest, however, suggests that Terrafirma was competitive against a traditional PBA powerhouse. Stephen Holt shined for the Dyip with 24 points, while Tiongson added 21 more in a losing effort versus the Tropang Giga. 

  Holt and Tiongson form a formidable high-scoring duo for Terrafirma, which is inside the top four in the league with an offensive rating of 111.2 and fifth overall with a 105.3 defensive rating. It’s not always that the Dyip start like this in a conference, but they are showing that they are very much capable of winning on any given night. Also on the rise for Terrafirma is Javi Gómez de Liaño, who is averaging 15.3 points and shooting 45.5 3FG% in the conference, thus far.

Advertisement

Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (0-2)

Projected Starting Five:

  • R.R. Garcia
  • Sean Manganti
  • Kenneth Tuffin
  • Jason Perkins
  • Raul Soyud

The Fuel Masters are still winless through two games in the conference. They are also 0-3 in their last three outings, dating back to the last conference. They lost to the NorthPort Batang Pier in their conference opener, 124-120, on March 8 before suffering a 102-92 defeat to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Sunday. Jason Perkins and Tyler Tio are doing most of the heavy lifting on offense. Perkins is averaging 21.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in the conference while also shooting 40% from deep. 

Tio, on the other hand, is making 19.0 points while recording a 40 3FG%. Phoenix’s offense can’t be underestimated despite the team’s 0-2 record. They are third overall with 106.0 points per game and No. 1 with 116.8 pointers per 100 possessions. The Fuel Masters’ history against Terrafirma also shows positive signs for their upcoming matchup versus the Dyip. Phoenix is 7-0 in its last seven meetings with the Dyip.

PREDICTION:

Spread: Terrafirma (+5.0) covers the spread.

Over/Under: The total (202.0) hits the Over.

Advertisement