MANILA – Terrafirma claimed their first victory in the 2024 PBA Governors’ Cup, stunning top seed TNT, 84-72, on Thursday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. This marks Terrafirma’s first win against TNT since 2016.
“I won, finally,” Stanley Pringle exclaimed during the postgame interview, revealing that he had been nursing a knee injury throughout the game.
“Well, I was a little hurt this game and my knee was just acting up a little bit from all the games, back-to-back,” Pringle said. “Coach let me sit out the second half — I asked if I could sit out for a while and just activate and do my mobility on the bench, and the guys stepped up.”
“I just came in really in the end and played hard in the end and we got the win,” he added.
With a narrow three-point lead and around six minutes left in the game at 69-66, Pringle sank crucial baskets and free throws, helping Terrafirma establish a 79-70 lead, despite efforts from TNT’s import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. The TNT offense struggled to find its rhythm, and Aldrech Ramos sealed the game for Terrafirma by hitting a dagger three-pointer with just 34 seconds remaining.
Pringle contributed 18 points and five rebounds, while Terrafirma’s reinforcement Antonio Hester led the team with 22 points and 10 rebounds. On the other hand, Hollis-Jefferson posted an impressive near triple-double for TNT, with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and nine steals, while RR Pogoy added 23 points.
The Scores:
TERRAFIRMA 84 – Hester 22, Pringle 18, Sangalang 10, Cahilig 8, Ramos 7, Hanapi 7, Hernandez 6, Olivario 2, Carino 2, Ferrer 2
TNT 72 – Hollis-Jefferson 25, Pogoy 23, Oftana 5, Erram 4, Nambatac 3, Payawal 3, Varilla 3, Castro 2, Khobuntin 2, Williams 2, Heruela 0, Vosotros 0, Exciminiano 0
QUARTERS: 15-18, 32-36, 50-57, 84-72