By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter
TERRAFIRMA Dyip continued to roll in the resumption of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup action, winning their third straight game with a 96-84 victory over the Blackwater Bossing at the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga, on Sunday.
Trailed for much of the contest, the Dyip hanged close and when they got their opportunity to create separation in the fourth quarter, they took it and never looked back to book the win that improved them to 3-4 in the season-opening PBA tournament.
Aldrech Ramos led six Terrafirma players who scored nine points or more with 17.
The win was in follow-up to the Dyip’s big victories previously against powerhouse teams San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings.
Prior to its ongoing win streak, Terrafirma lost four straight.
Terrafirma and Blackwater fought to a tied 65-all count at the end of the third quarter before the Dyip made their move.
They outscored the Bossing, 19-5, in the first six minutes of the final frame, on the lead of Mr. Ramos and Reden Celda, to build a 14-point cushion, 84-70.
The lead ballooned to 18 points, 91-73, by the 3:14 mark and Terrafirma went for the closeout after.
Veteran Ramos added nine rebounds and two assists to his stat line while Mr. Celda had 15 points.
Andreas Cahilig had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Dyip, with Juami Tiongson and Rashawn Mccarthy having 10 points apiece. Joseph Gabayni and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser each had nine.
At 3-4, Terrafirma moved to solo seventh place in the standings, in the mix for a playoff spot. It, too, is one of the hottest teams in the PBA since the Philippine Cup resumed on Sept. 1 in Pampanga after a one-month stoppage because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns.
For its part, Blackwater, winless now in seven matches, was led by Mike Tolomia with 14 and Simon Enciso with 13.
Meanwhile, the scheduled match between the Meralco Bolts and Barangay Ginebra was postponed hours before tip-off in accordance with the PBA’s health and safety protocols.
The league did not go into details, but said the game will be rescheduled to a later date.
It was the second game to be postponed in the Bacolor “semi-bubble” of the PBA after that between the San Miguel Beermen and Alaska Aces the previous day.