Hope for cellar dwellers

Five teams won’t advance to the PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs and with three games left in its schedule, cellar-dwelling Terrafirma (0-9) is one loss away from outright elimination. If Blackwater (1-7) sweeps its last four assignments, the Bossing could still sneak into the quarterfinals with four teams brandishing four or five wins at the moment. The door is slowly closing on Terrafirma and Blackwater but is there hope for the perennial doormats to break out of their funk?

Terrafirma’s average losing margin is 14 compared to Blackwater’s 15.3. The Dyip never led in losing to NLEX by 16, was severely outrebounded, 70-35 in bowing to Converge by 29, allowed 32 assists while dishing out only 17 in a 16-point defeat to Ginebra, gave up 64 points in the paint while scoring only 36 in a 14-point setback to Phoenix and was dominated off the boards, 55-35, and outscored by 16 from the line in losing to Magnolia by five.

Terrence Romeo made his Terrafirma debut against the HotShots last Friday and Kemark Carino has played the last two games after sitting out six in a row. Both are critical pieces in Terrafirma’s lineup. Five players are averaging in double figure points and five are norming at least two assists a game. Against Magnolia, Terrafirma went down slugging and had a chance to pull off an upset, displaying renewed confidence with Romeo’s activation. Stanley Pringle delivered 22 points and if it’s all hands on deck, Terrafirma could still break into the win column. The Dyip battles Blackwater tomorrow, Eastern on Friday and TNT on Jan. 22 to wind up its schedule.

Blackwater shot a poor .299 from the floor in losing to Ginebra by 23, allowed 28 assists and compiled only 18 in bowing to Rain or Shine by 16, gave up 11 more field goal attempts in a 13-point loss to San Miguel Beer, was outrebounded, 60-41, in losing to Eastern by nine, was outscored by 24 points in the paint in bowing to NLEX by 12 and never led in an 18-point defeat to Magnolia.

In team standings, Blackwater is last in offense, field goal percentage, points in the paint, blocked shots, assists and second chance points while Terrafirma is last in defense, rebounding, starter points, points in the paint allowed, field goal percentage allowed, rebounds allowed, assists allowed and second chance points allowed. For Blackwater, only George King and Sedrick Barefield are averaging in double figure points. Coach Jeff Cariaso has started 13 of 17 players he’s sent in. The Dyip’s remaining games are against Terrafirma tomorrow, Converge on Sunday, Phoenix on Jan. 21 and NorthPort on Jan. 25.

For players of both teams, here are 10 things to keep in mind. First, play with pride. Second, work as a team, trust in each other. Third, forget the past, play each game like starting from scratch. Fourth, be ready to play whatever it takes to go all out. Fifth, improve on areas where you’re deficient. Sixth, be attentive to detail, study matchups, review videos, come prepared to win. Seventh, don’t be frustrated, motivate yourself. Eighth, don’t try to be a hero, play within the system. Ninth, never bring your head down. Tenth, stay in the moment, don’t overthink the future.