PBA: Terrafirma off to 3-0 start after beating Blackwater in heated affair

Red-hot Terrafirma seized solo leadership in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup after overcoming Blackwater, 99–88, in a tense showdown Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Dyip raced to a 10–0 start in the opening period and stretched the lead to as much 20 in the second, but the Bossing threatened multiple times throughout the game. Still, Terrafirma had an answer each time to preserve the lead and remain unbeaten.

Now at 3–0, Terrafirma is one win away from matching its best start since 2016, when the franchise opened with a 4–0 record in that year’s Governors’ Cup.

Mubashar Ali once again starred for Terrafirma with 22 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, and a block. He received enough help from the local support as Paolo Hernandez poured in 20 markers, five boards, three dimes, two steals, and two blocks while Jerrick Ahanmisi and Joseph Eriobu chipped in 18 and 12 markers each.

Terrafirma's hot start saw the Dyip cruising to a big 40-20 lead early in the second period, but Blackwater turned things around, unloading a 29-10 run to close the half trailing by only one point, 50-49.

A commotion early in the fourth quarter prompted game officials to hand out several technical fouls.

It started when top overall pick Geo Chiu got physical with RK Ilagan at the 10:17 mark. Blackwater import Daniel Ochefu then shoved Chiu from behind, sparking a brief exchange that also drew in other Dyip players, including Maverick Ahanmisi and Ali.

The heated exchange quickly subsided as Terrafirma suddenly caught fire from downtown with Jerrick firing a four-pointer and Eriobu converting five straight points to give Terrafirma a 90-76 cushion. 

Sedrick Barefield then completed a four-point play, but that was not enough to rally Blackwater as Chiu scored the last four points for Terrafirma, including an uncontested two-handed dunk with 1:41 to go. 

Barefield posted 25 points, five rebounds, and three assists while Ochefu had 11 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block as Blackwater sank to a 0-2 start. 

Scores:

Terrafirma 99 – Ali 22, Hernandez 20, J.Ahanmisi 18, Eriobu 12, M.Ahanmisi 10, Bravo 7, Chiu 7, Zaldivar 3, Umali 0.

Blackwater 88 – Barefield 25, Ochefu 11, Andrade 10, Ilagan 9, Mendoza 8, Tratter 7, Una 6, David 5, Panopio 4, Escoto 3, Guinto 0, Mallilin 0, Jopia 0, Murrell 0.

Quarters: 33-15, 50-49, 75-66, 99-88.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News