Terrafirma’s win vs SMB a confidence booster – Tiongson

Veteran gunner Juami Tiongson considered Terrafirma’s 85-72 triumph over San Miguel Beer on Sunday, July 16, as a big confidence booster.

Sure, the Beermen didn’t play full strength in the absence of Gilas pool members June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez, as well as veterans Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross but the former PBA Most Improved Player still sees the win as something the Dyip could build on for the coming season.

Juami Tiongson of Terrafirma scored 15 points and dished six assists against San Miguel last Sunday. PBA IMAGE 

“It’s a good confidence builder going into the next conference,” Tiongson told the Manila Times on Monday. “We’ve been having trouble finishing games in the final minutes in the past and games like these help us strengthen our trust and chemistry.”

The huge PBA On Tour win allowed Terrafirma to snap a three-game skid and improve to 4-6 overall with just a game left on its preseason series schedule.

“It’s always nice to win. But we can’t be overconfident thinking we beat a full SMB squad. They’re missing a lot of their star players but at the end of the day, a win is a win. We go and build from there,” said the 32-year-old guard out of Ateneo.

The Dyip have missed a franchise-worst 15 straight playoffs appearances, including the last 10 under current coach John Cardel.

Terrafirma’s first and only playoff appearance happened during the 2016 Governors Cup when Chris Gavina still called the shots with athletic James White as the team’s import.