Dyip thrills
Don’t look now, but Terrafirma just strung up its third straight victory for an unbeaten start to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The team that has been racking up losses over the past few seasons, has grown accustomed to its place as doormats, has seen its best players leave, and has been the subject of many franchise sale reports, is now on top of the standings.
And if its next opponent is not careful, the Dyip might just match its best franchise start from a decade ago.
“We just want to change the culture of this team,” said Hernandez, the Terrafirma guard who had 20 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in his team’s 99-88 victory over Blackwater on Wednesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“Because for the past conferences, we were hitting rock bottom and there were issues that led to some players leaving,” Hernandez said during his player of the game interview, where Terrafirma again took its cue from the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder and had all players behind Hernandez during the postmatch chat.
The Dyip have not been able to hit their stride largely because the franchise traded away talented players who could have made a difference. And then there were those who suddenly left for reasons that remain murky—as is the case with Mark Nonoy and Louie Sangalang.
This time, Hernandez lauded those who stayed, noting how veterans Maverick and Jerrick Ahanmisi and Joseph Eriobu, all of whom have experienced being in the playoffs from their previous teams, have been able to help inject some winning attitude that has resulted in the best start since a 4-0 record to open the 2016 Governors’ Cup.
“And with the help of Coach Ronald [Tubid] and management, they made the team what it is, and now we’re 3-0. Hopefully we can sustain it,” said Hernandez.
Killer stretch
Sustaining that streak will be the biggest challenge Terrafirma now faces, with the schedule about to get unkind.
The Dyip are slated to test Phoenix, currently unbeaten at 2-0, next Wednesday at the same venue before entering a killer stretch featuring the formidable clubs of the San Miguel Corporation and the MVP Group, Rain or Shine and guest team Macau.
“We treat every time as if it is lunch because we’re hungry,” said Tubid. “And it starts in practice. If we have a good practice, it translates during the game.”
Terrafirma nearly squandered a 20-point second-quarter lead as Blackwater got to within a point, 50-49, by halftime. But the Dyip managed to keep the contest in their control with Hernandez, Mubashar Ali, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Eriobu leading the charge.
“We had a good start, but we tend to go one-on-one during the second quarter. Good thing we were able to keep things back in the proper direction,” said Tubid.
Mubashar had 22 points and 23 rebounds, Jerrick Ahanmisi pumped in 18, while Eriobu added 12 points and seven rebounds as the Dyip sent the Bossing to a 0-2 start in the conference.
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