The Terrafirma Dyip finally broke through with their first win of the 50th Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup, ending a long drought with a hard-fought 97–91 victory over the NLEX Road Warriors on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
The triumph was especially meaningful for the Dyip, who snapped an 11-game losing streak dating back to last season. It also marked the first win under new head coach Ronald Tubid, who lauded his team’s determination and belief.
“It’s very important for the team. During our first game, they were excited, and they knew they could do it,” Tubid said. “We pushed the players and told them we might be undersized, but we can win.”
Rookie JM Bravo, the 56th overall pick in the sixth round, led the charge with 18 points, showing poise and confidence beyond his draft position. Bravo exploded for 10 points in the third quarter, fueling a key run that extended Terrafirma’s lead to 74–62 entering the final period.
Veteran Jerrick Ahanmisi added 14 points, including a crucial layup that halted an NLEX rally. After the Road Warriors trimmed the deficit to three, Ahanmisi’s basket stretched the lead to 95–91 with 37.1 seconds remaining, effectively sealing the win.
The Dyip bounced back from a 107–87 loss to Blackwater in their season opener last Friday, showing marked improvement on both ends of the floor.
NLEX, on the other hand, entered the game riding high from an 85–84 upset of San Miguel last Wednesday but failed to sustain their momentum. Xyrus Torres finished with a game-high 14 points in a losing effort for the Road Warriors, who dropped to 1–1.
