De Thaey ready to lead young Terrafirma team

IMPORT Thomas de Thaey thinks Terrafirma is capable of making the playoffs given the talent it has heading into Season 48 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The 6-foot-8 Belgian, though, is well aware that basketball talent is not enough to win a championship, a reason why he would like to see the Dyip play consistent team basketball when the season opens on November 5 for the Commissioner’s Cup.

“I understand that Terrafirma is a relatively young team in the PBA, but the sense that I have is that the organization is growing and has healthy ambition,” De Thaey told The Manila Times on Wednesday, October 25.

Terrafirma import Thomas de Thaey CONTRIBUTED PHOTO 

“The key, in my opinion, will be to play team basketball, have everybody being a star in their respective role and compete every night. That’s what we can control and the rest will be out of our hands.”

The Dyip have played the NorthPort Batang Pier and Barangay Ginebra Kings recently in tune-up matches, and thus far, de Thaey liked what he saw with Terrafirma.

“We’ve put up a good fight in every game we’ve played until now,” said the former North Carolina State alum.

“The skill level of the locals has definitely surprised me in a very positive way. I can see how the game here is more open and faster, almost like an NBA style of playing.”

He was also surprised to see Filipino players willingly bang bodies and play tough.

“The physicality is there and I don’t mind that one bit, as I am a physical player myself. It gets me going,” said de Thaey, who went undrafted in the NBA in 2013, but built a professional basketball career in Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Romania, and just recently, Uruguay.

With his vast international experience, de Thaey hopes to impart his wealth of basketball knowledge to Terrafirma, which signed several rookies heading into the new season.

“I will let my past international experience be my leading factor in helping the younger guys on this team as well as the normal challenges we will face in-season,” he said.

De Thaey said he’s also happy to have this year’s top PBA rookie pick Stephen Holt as his teammate. He has high respect for the 6-foot-4 Holt, who has also built a solid pro career in Europe.

“He (Holt) will for sure give our club a big boost with his wealth of international basketball. We’re very thankful to have a 32-year-old rookie of his caliber,” said de Thaey, who had his best pro career with the Timba Timisoara in Romania where he averaged 18.4 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting over 35 percent from three-point zone during the 2017-18 season.

Terrafirma will open its season against NorthPort on November 10 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.