Tiongson hits game-winner as Dyip rallies past Bossing

MANILA, Philippines -- Juami Tiongson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 12.3 seconds remaining as Terrafirma came from 19 points down to escape Blackwater, 92-91, in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila on Saturday.

With Blackwater leading by just two, 89-91, with 22 seconds to go following a split from the line by Rey Nambatac, Tiongson took matters into his own hands.

Against the smaller RK Ilagan, Tiongson drove right and stopped on a dime from beyond the arc as his defender gave him some breathing space.

He then launched a trey that rattled in the basket for the lead, 92-91.

On the other end, Ilagan had the chance to respond as he stepped back against Isaac Go.

His shot, however, rolled out, completing Dyip's big comeback in the first PBA game in Rizal Memorial in decades.

Blackwater led by as much as 19 points, 61-42, in the third quarter with a jumper by Rey Suerte.

Slowly, though, the Dyip inched closer and closer, as they ended the canto with a 31-16 run to cut the lead to four, 73-77.

In the final frame, Terrafirma was able to tie the game up at 79 with a jumper by Javi Gomez de Liano at the 8:47 mark.

The Dyip put the game on a deadlock multiple times, and eventually took the lead, 89-88, after a layup by Gomez de Liano with 1:51 remaining.

A pair of freebies by Ilagan gave the Bossing the lead once again, 1:38.

On the other end, Gomez de Liano had a costly turnover to give the ball back to Blackwater, but Ilagan missed a trey that would have been the dagger.

In the next possession, rookie Stephen Holt drove to the basket and kicked the ball out, but he passed it to no one, setting up Nambatac’s split from the line.

Holt led Terrafirma with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Tiongson, on the other hand, had 20 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Troy Rosario filled the statsheet up for Blackwater, finishing with 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.

Both teams are now holding 3-2 slates, with Terrafirma arresting a two-game skid and Blackwater losing its second straight game.