Jerrick Ahanmisi and rookie JM Bravo delivered in the crunchtime as Terrafirma essayed a huge upset of NLEX, 97-91 to pick up its first win in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, Sunday, Oct. 12.
Emerging into the role as the Dyip main man, Ahanmisi scored a layup off a broken play to keep their heads above the water, 95-91.
Bravo then took advantage of the confused Road Warriors, who seemed to be undecided whether to foul or not in the waning seconds.
Louie Sangalang found the rookie forward free for an undergoal stab sealing the victory – the first of the franchise under new head coach Ronald Tubid.
Bravo stepped up big for the Dyip, unloading 18 points to go with eight rebounds while Ahanmisi finished with 15 points and five rebounds.
Paolo Hernandez also chipped in 13 points laced with seven rebounds and six steals while Didat Hanapi and Sangalang had 13 and 11 respectively.
Terrafirma, which opened the conference with an 87-107 loss, actually averted a huge collapse, almost squandering a 16-point lead in the third when NLEX came within just two, 91-93 with less than a minute left.
Meanwhile, Phoenix barged into the win column and kept defending champion San Miguel winless, 109-103.
Ricci Rivero, Jason Perkins, Tyler Tio and Evan Nelle all delivered for the Fuel Masters who built a sizeable margin in the final frame before they fended off a late Beermen run to give the new head coach his first win as PBA head coach.
Rivero led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds while Tio and Kai Ballungay finished with 10 apiece.
Perkins finished with 13 points while Nelle had nine points and 10 assists.
The Fuel Masters improved to a 1-1 record while the Beermen dropped to a 0-2 slate.
Phoenix’s victory, however, did not come without a scare as after taking a 100-84 lead over SMB, the Fuel Masters had to face a huge uprising from the Beermen, who cut the deficit down to just four, 107-103 with 44 seconds left.
