De Liano shines in Terrafirma victory

By Robert Andaya

TERRAFIRMA Dyip rode on Javi Gomez De Liano’s career-high 31 points and Thomas De Thaey’s double-double performance of  23 points and 16 rebounds  to roll back NLEX, 113-112, in  the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

De Liano made  career game which included 10-of-15 shooting, five rebounds, two steals, and two assists in 37 minutes of play and De Thaey’s usual strong showing enabled the Dyip of coach Johnedel Cardel to secured their second consecutive triumph after dropping their opening assignment.

Rookie Stephen Holt  also came through with a superb all-around performance for the Dyip as he finished with 21 points, six rebounds, and six assists.

Isaac Go added 17 points and four rebounds, and Juami Tiongson chipped in  14 points, six assists, and three rebounds for the Dyip.

:They (Dyip)  really wanted to win this game going to the big team, TNT (on Nov. 22),: said  Cardel after the tensely-fought encounter.

“Sinuwerte kami, na-miss ‘yung huli,” added Cardel, citing  NLEX import Thomas Robinson missed what should have been a game-tying free throw in the last 1.3 seconds of the game.

“But Credit to NLEX dahil malakas talaga iyung lineup nila. They have a good strong import and we’re just lucky we got this win.”

De Thaey’s layup extended TerraFirma’s lead to 10 points at 103-93 but  NLEX  responded  with  a 7-0 run to threaten  at 100-103 with 2:58 left in the game.
Go increased Dyip’s lead to five points, but  Robinson’s two free throws cut the deficit to three.

Holt then scored five crucial points, giving TerraFirma an eight-point lead at 110-102 with 1:28 remaining.
Sean Anthony’s layup and Don Trollano’s two crucial free throws reduced the deficit to four with 44 seconds left.. But Go, split his free throws to make  it 111-106 with 30 seconds  left.

Three free throws by Kris Rosales  brought NLEX  to within two points at 109-111 before  Robinson made a crucial  layup to tie the game with 10 seconds left, capitalizing on a steal from Go’s errant pass.

Although Holt missed a layup, Aldrech Ramos secured the offensive rebound and  TerraFirma a 113-111 lead with three seconds remaining.

Robinson led NLEX with  40 points on 17-of-25 shooting, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, while Trollano contributed 19 points and six rebounds.
Rosales had 13 points, and Anthony and Michael Miranda each contributed 10 points in the losing effort.

The scores:
Terrafirma (113) – Gomez de Liano 31, De Thaey 23, Holt 21, Go 17, Tiongson 14, Ramos 4, Carino 3, Camson 0, Daquioag 0, Olivario 0, Alolino 0, Cahilig 0.

NLEX (112) – Robinson 40, Trollano 19, Rosales 13, Anthony 10, Miranda 10, Rodger 8, Herndon 7, Nieto 3, Semerad 2, Marcelo 0, Alas 0.

Quarterscores: 22-31, 51-53, 81-79, 113-112