Terrafirma is not about to ease up after a franchise-best 2-0 start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
For Dyip head coach Ronald Tubid, back-to-back wins are only fueling a team that remains driven to prove it belongs among the early contenders when it faces Blackwater on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Gutom kami,” Tubid said, summing up the mindset of a squad suddenly emerging as one of the conference’s biggest early stories.
Powered by a relentless import who may have carved out a place in PBA history, Terrafirma has opened the tournament with two straight victories for the first time in franchise history. Now, the Dyip are chasing an even bigger breakthrough — a 3-0 start that could further cement their status as the league’s early surprise package.
Tubid, however, insists there is no mystery behind the team’s strong opening. For him, the gains are rooted in the work his players have been putting in long before tip-off.
“Now we’re enjoying practice, we’re excited to practice, we’re doing good in practice so natra-translate na lang sa games iyon,” he said.
Far from being carried away by the momentum, Tubid said Terrafirma remains grounded and hungry.
“Walang kompiyansa sa team na ito kasi hungry team na ito,” he added. “So we’ll just do our job, sa practice. Then makikita naman sa game iyon. Nag-i-start sa practice lahat.”
Blackwater, meanwhile, comes into the matchup looking to recover after an 81-84 loss to NLEX last Friday, a game in which the Bossing struggled to match the Road Warriors’ cohesion down the stretch.
Still, there is optimism that coach Jeffrey Cariaso’s side can turn things around once it fully finds its rhythm, especially with import Daniel Ochefu and Sedrick Barefield expected to lead the charge.
For Terrafirma, much of the early success has come from the strong play of Mubashar Ali and Jerrick Ahanmisi. Ahanmisi has provided steady leadership and production, averaging 20 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals through wins over Titan Ultra and Converge.
Ali, though, has been nothing short of sensational.
The 29-year-old seven-footer is averaging 38.5 points and 23.5 rebounds, highlighted by a monstrous 50-point, 25-rebound eruption in Terrafirma’s 111-100 overtime victory over Converge last Saturday.
According to Fidel Mangonon III, who was named the league’s chief statistician in 1992, Ali’s feat may have been the first 50-point, 20-rebound game ever recorded in the PBA. What made it even more remarkable was that he delivered it while fasting during the day in observance of Ramadan.
Even after the historic performance, Ali quickly shifted the spotlight to his teammates.
“I’m very fortunate to have the help and support of the team. At any time, I can call them for anything and they’d always come through. So shoutout to them,” he said.
Ali also pointed to what he believes has become the foundation of Terrafirma’s resurgence.
“Just staying together,” he said.
“Whether we’re down, whether we’re up, it doesn’t matter. Always the next man up. When the next man goes out, we’re always united, we stay together, we play together, we move the ball the best we can and get the easiest shot we can get. Play defense together, box out together. Everything’s together.
“That’s the key word now, together.”
With confidence growing, chemistry strengthening, and history already within reach, Terrafirma now heads into its clash with Blackwater determined to show that its fiery start is no fluke.
