Terrafirma rallies late to hand NLEX first Governors' Cup loss

Terrafirma mounted a strong late rally to defeat NLEX 114-109 on Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila, handing the Road Warriors their first defeat of the PBA Governors' Cup. The Road Warriors had maintained a 109-105 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but Terrafirma closed the game on a decisive run to secure the victory.

The comeback was sparked by Geo Chiu, who scored back-to-back baskets to tie the game with less than two minutes left. Brent Paraiso also played a key role in the closing stretch, contributing important points before Maverick Ahanmisi sealed the win by splitting his free throws after drawing a foul from Anthony Semerad.

Despite efforts from NLEX players Robert Bolick, JB Bahio, and LJ Gonzales, the Road Warriors were unable to respond in the final minutes and fell short. This win allowed Terrafirma to avenge their earlier 101-100 loss to NLEX in the same conference.

Terrafirma head coach Ronald Tubid attributed the victory to the team's determination and energy, noting that they had emphasized competing for every possession from the start. He acknowledged that while NLEX had been undefeated at 6-0, Terrafirma believed they could match up with them.

Justin Strings led Terrafirma with an impressive stat line of 28 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. Maverick Ahanmisi contributed a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists, along with three rebounds and three steals. Brent Paraiso added 18 points, while Juami Tiongson and JM Bravo chipped in 20 and 16 points respectively, helping Terrafirma improve their record to 3-4.

For NLEX, Robert Bolick and JB Bahio paced the team with 20 points each, with Bahio also grabbing 16 rebounds. Import Dequan Jones added 19 points, while Schonny Winston and LJ Gonzales contributed 16 and 15 points respectively. The loss dropped NLEX to 6-1 in the tournament.

The quarter-by-quarter scores were 34-30 in favor of Terrafirma in the first quarter, 65-60 for NLEX at halftime, 88-86 for Terrafirma after the third quarter, and the final 114-109 victory for Terrafirma. This game highlighted Terrafirma's resilience and ability to close out tight contests against a previously unbeaten NLEX squad.