(PBA image)
|The window to the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs may be narrow, but Phoenix Super LPG and Terrafirma aren’t ready to shut it just yet. Both teams, neck-and-neck with identical 1-5 records, are fighting for survival as they clash in a crucial midweek duel at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
Despite enduring four straight losses, both squads still have a mathematical shot at sneaking into the top eight—and this game could be the spark that revives one of their fading campaigns.
For Phoenix coach Willy Wilson, effort remains the great equalizer. “Kung tutuusin mo, you can overcome a lot by just being the harder worker on the court,” said the former gritty forward. “If we can keep outworking our opponents, maybe we can overachieve.”
Terrafirma, meanwhile, has shown flashes of promise, pushing TNT to overtime before falling short, 95-109. Wilson himself acknowledged the Dyip’s youthful fire. “They’re in it in a lot of games. They just haven’t been finishing. There are a lot of underrated players there,” he noted.
Phoenix also continues to battle growing pains, having recently absorbed a tough 80-91 loss to Rain or Shine. “We’re playing hard and always putting ourselves in a position to win. It’s just the finishing kick that’s missing,” Wilson admitted.
Now, as both teams face off, it’s no longer just about systems or sets—it’s about hunger. “More on desire,” said Wilson. “How bad do you want it? How bad do you want to win?”
For Phoenix and Terrafirma, Wednesday’s showdown isn’t just another game—it’s a fight for breathing room, belief, and a chance to keep the playoff flame alive.
