Terrafirma kept a slim chance of making the quarterfinals after wrapping up the eliminations with a 105-89 win over Alaska Sunday, Sept. 19 in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Six players scored in double figures as the Dyip took charge in the second half to snap a three-game skid and finish with the same record as the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters at 4-7 which kept them in contention to arrange a playoff for the eighth and final quarters berth.
The Dyip’s fortunes, however, are no longer in their hands with the race for the remaining spots in the last eight still complicated going into the final week of the elims.
“Hopefully mabigyan kami ng chance for these playoffs, depende sa win-loss record ng kalaban,” said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel.
In order to stay alive for No. 8, Terrafirma will need to rely on Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Alaska to slip up in their remaining games.
Ginebra is in eighth at 4-6 while Alaska fell to 11th spot at 3-6 with its second straight defeat.
Rashawn McCarthy scored 12 of his 19 points in the final two quarters, Juami Tiongson got back to the form that saw Terrafirma win three in a row in the opening week of the restart by posting 17 points and six assists while Roosevelt Adams put up 17 points and eight rebounds.
Guards Bonbon Batiller and Reden Celda added 11 points apiece for the Dyip.
Alaska’s latest loss has made its final two games of the elims as much-win scenarios.
The Aces battle the San Miguel Beermen and the NorthPort Batang Pier, with the exact schedule of those games to be determined as early as Tuesday, Sept. 21.
Abu Tratter had 18 points and nine rebounds while Robbie Herndon added 15 in the Aces’ final game of a difficult schedule of playing in three straight days.
Things looked bright for Alaska to begin the stretch, stunning Ginebra with an 89-75 decision but fell 105-83 to TNT the following night.
The scores:
TERRAFIRMA 105 — McCarthy 19, Tiongson 17, Ramos 17, Adams 17, Batiller 11, Celda 11, Ganuelas-Rosser 8, Calvo 2, Gabayni 0, Laput 0, Camson 0.
ALASKA 89 — Tratter 18, Herndon 15, Ahanmisi 14, Brondial 12, Casio 12, Adamos 8, Teng 4, DiGregorio 3, Banal 3, Ilagan 0, Ebona 0, Marcelino 0.
Quarters: 24-21, 42-45, 79-75, 105-89.