It may not show in the standings just yet, but Terrafirma is starting to earn something more valuable than wins — respect.
“What’s important is that other teams can’t take us lightly anymore,” said head coach Ronald Tubid, who has been steering the Dyip through a major rebuilding phase this season. “Even if we’re losing, we’re competing. Before, teams thought they already had the win once they faced us. Now, they’re surprised.”
Terrafirma’s 1-4 record doesn’t tell the full story. Their recent battles against powerhouse teams like Magnolia and Rain or Shine came down to the wire, only slipping away after late-game heroics from Mark Barroca and Santi Santillan.
“Those guys just caught fire in the fourth quarter,” Tubid said with a grin. “But the effort and fight from our side are there. We just ran out of bodies.”
The team underwent sweeping changes in the off-season, parting ways with veterans Terrence Romeo, Vic Manuel, and Stanley Pringle, while welcoming fresh faces like Jerrick and Maverick Ahanmisi, along with Aljon Mariano. Rookies JM Bravo and Ira Battaler have also joined the mix, while draft picks Geo Chiu and Shawn Umali are expected to reinforce the frontcourt soon. Once Chiu and Umali finish their other league commitments, and Kemark Carino recovers from his ACL injury, Tubid expects a more imposing lineup.
“For now, we’re playing small and fast. We rely on ball movement and tempo,” explained Tubid, a nine-time PBA champion. “We can run all day, but it has to be organized — not just chaos. And on defense, everyone has to work together, not just individually.”
Tubid admitted that time has been their biggest opponent. After finishing last in the Philippine Cup, the Dyip had less than a month to regroup and prepare for the new season.
“We didn’t have the luxury of a long off-season. Everything’s been fast-tracked,” he said. “But as long as our players keep improving and everyone buys into the system, we’re happy with the progress.”
The wins will come in time, but for now, Terrafirma is earning back what it lost long ago — belief, both from within and from the rest of the league.