The Dyip have finally reached the light at the end of the long tunnel.
Lester Prosper dropped a career-high and franchise record 50 points as Terrafirma took down NLEX, 124-114, in overtime to score its breakthrough win in the 2022 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 18.
The Dyip celebrated as if they won something significant in the thrilling showdown – a relief of sorts for a team that is already out of contention but pushed through to end a 25-game losing skid.
Prosper gave his all might to ensure that the Terrafirma woes would finally come to its end, dropping seven of the Dyip’s 14 points in the extra period to repel the comeback hopes of the Road Warriors.
Alex Cabagnot also came up huge in the waning minutes, drilling a huge triple before dishing out two crucial assist passes to which Andreas Cahilig converted to rebuild a double-digit lead that ultimately took the fight out of NLEX.
Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel heaved praises to Prosper who, aside from his scoring, also provided the much-needed lift in other aspects of the game with 19 rebounds, five assists and a block.
“We’re just lucky lang in this game kasi struggling din naman ang NLEX. I told the boys we have to take advantage of that .We had good practice for two days. I told him (Prosper) you have to follow my instructions, get rebounds, get assists for his teammates and that’s what he did now. I told him that you're gonna get 50 points,” said Cardel
He was also thankful and happy for his players now that they were able to break the curse and still managed to put themselves in the position to end the conference strong.
“Thankful din ako to all my players, sila Alex, sila Juami (Tiongson), sila Gelo (Alolino). Ito nga yung 25 game losing streak at least nasira yung sumpa. We can start again. We have two more games,” he added.
Tiongson added 18 points while Eric Camson added 15 points – two players who led the initial onslaught for Terrafirma which led by as many as 17 points, 71-54, in regulation.
Images of the nightmarish losing streak, however, continued to hunt the Dyip as, after taking the biggest lead of the contest, saw their performance dwindle in the final frame, leaving a window open for an NLEX comeback.
Behind import Earl Clark, who finished with 45 points, and Don Trollano and Brandon Ganuelas Rosser, who added 26 and 22 points, respectively, the Road Warriors came alive and rallied back in the second half to tie the knot at 110-all and force the extra period – all of which went futile in the end.