TERRAFIRMA Dyip is on a roll.

In their finest three-game stretch, the Dyip used balanced scoring to turn back Blackwater Elite, 96-84, and make it three wins in a row in the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup at the Don Honorio Ventura State University gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.

Looking supremely confident following back-to-back upset victories over league San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra, the Dyip put up another solid game despite getting a so-so performance from their take-charge-guy, Juami Tiongson.

Aldrech Ramos finished with a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds while Reden Celda contributed a personal conference-best 15 points and six rebounds for the Dyip, who emerged from the first week of the semi-bubble setup with a third straight win and a 3-4 record overall.

Andreas Cahilig also stepped up for the Dyip with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Rashawn McCarthy had10 points and four dimes.

The win came despite Tiongson managing only 10 points, 19.5 below his average in their last two games against San Miguel and Ginebra.

“I was really worried about this third game. Baka maging complacent ang team kaya I tried to push the players,” said Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel

“The other guys I know may ilalaro pa sila, like Red. Some other players nandiyan lang naman and ready to play,” added Cardel.

“I told them, ‘You have to play as a team. Tulungan natin si Juami na ma-open. Pag hindi, he will be the one to act as decoy and it worked.”

The Dyip, who welcomed the return of last year’s top rookie pick Roosevelt Adams in the active roster, took three quarters before heating up.

But with the score tied at 65-all,the Dyip went on a scoring rampage and settled the outcome of the match behind a 24-8 run in the first six minutes of the final period to take a commanding 89-73 lead.

The Dyip never looked back from there.

Mike Tolomia topscored for Blackwater with 14 points, followed by Simon Enciso with 13, Ed Daquioag with 12 and Paul Desiderio and Baser Amer with 11.

The loss was the seventh overall for Blackwater — and third in a row in the bubble — as its losing skid dating back to October of last year was stretched to a franchise-low 15 games.

Later, Talk N Text brought down Magnolia, 83-76, to keep its perfect record with six straight wins.

The scores:

First game
Terrafirma (96) — Ramos 17, Celda 15, Cahilig 12, Tiongson 10, McCarthy 10, Gabayni 9, Ganuellas-Rosser 9, Laput 4, Camson 4, Adams 3, Calvo 2, Batiller 1, Alolino 0, Balagasay 0.
Blackwater (84) — Tolomia 14, Simon 13, Daquioag 12, Amer 11, Desiderio 11, Nabong 8, Cruz 4, Golla 3, Torralba 3, Dennison 2, Magat 2, Escoto 1, Paras 0, Semerad 0, Canaleta 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 43-39, 65-65, 96-84.

Second game
Talk N Text (83) — Castro 17, M. Williams 14, K. Williams 13, Pogoy 12, Rosario 11, Erram 9, Marcelo 4, Heruela 2, Reyes 1, Exciminiano 0, Khobuntin 0, Montalbo 0, Alejandro 0, Javier 0, Mendoza 0.
Magnolia (76) — Abueva 23, Lee 13, Sangalang 10, Barroca 10, Jalalon 9, Corpuz 5, Dela Rosa 4, Reavis 2, Brill 0, Melton 0, Ahanmisi 0, De Leon 0, Capobres 0, Pascual 0, Dionisio 0.
Quarterscores:15-15, 35-32, 59-52, 83-76.