Terrafirma ends playoff drought, edges NorthPort

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Terrafirma Dyip secured their first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) playoff berth in eight years by defeating NorthPort Batang Pier 104-96 on May 8, 2024, at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

In a must-win game for Terrafirma, the team launched a balanced offensive attack to overcome NorthPort’s early lead.

Despite trailing by six points after the first quarter, Terrafirma rallied back in the second frame, led by Juami Tiongson’s scoring spree, which put them ahead at halftime.

The game remained tightly contested, with neither team establishing a double-digit lead. Terrafirma extended their lead to seven points with six minutes left in the game.

Cade Flores of NorthPort responded with a quick offensive run, cutting the deficit to two points.

In the final 1:37, Terrafirma’s Tiongson and Stephen Holt executed back-to-back three-point plays, clinching the victory for the Dyip.

“The players really want to play in these quarterfinals, even though we’ve had to squeeze through the eye of a needle. We’ll continue to push through every challenge to seize this opportunity,” said Terrafirma head coach Johnedel Cardel.

Tiongson topped the scoring with 30 points, shooting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc, and added five rebounds and three assists. Javi Gomez de Liaño contributed 21 points, while Holt nearly achieved a triple-double with 18 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and four steals.