COLUMN: RARE TERRAFIRMA SUCCESS DAMPENED BY RUMORS OF HOLT TRADE

CHICAGO - The idea that Terrafirma is about to make the PBA playoffs assaults the brain like a searing, throbbing headache.

After an eternity of futility which threatened the cardiovascular health of whatever fan base they have left, the ramshackle Dyip is getting a ride to the postseason.

Really?

Yes sir, and thanks largely to Stephen Holt and Juami Tiongson. Talk about a Death Two in the backcourt, lethal as anthrax and uranium.

After a slippery start, Holt has finally figured out the physicality of the PBA while finding the balance between when to defer and when to take over. 

A ROY NAMED HOLT

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Holt is averaging 20.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. If he doesn't win the Rookie of the Year award, the NBI should launch an investigation.

I know, Keith Datu, Zavier Lucero and Schonny Winston have all excelled but playing for Terrafirma has a degree of difficulty that borders on being a handicap.

Juami Tiongson, meanwhile, is what the kids these days call "him," averaging 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 dimes per. When it comes to shot-making skills, Juami is Tyler Herro minus seven inches.

Eight years is two mayoral terms and the time you need to finish high school and earn a bachelor's degree in college. It took that long but Terrafirma is back in the playoffs.

But if I were a fan of the Dyip, I wouldn't know whether to grieve or to celebrate. because Holt's emergence and Tiongson's dominance could put them on the trading block.

COME AND GO.

History has shown Terrafirma's allergy for great players by giving away top picks such as Joshua Munzon and C.J. Perez while passing on Christian Standhardinger in the 2017 draft and watching Matt Ganuelas-Rosser leave for TNT.    

As rumors of Holt's imminent departure continue to percolate, his representation told me it's a development they "can't confirm or deny," adding that they just "get told" after trades happen.

Given that Holt is 32 and Juami is 33, their flights to richer, bigger, and more successful teams can happen sooner rather than later.

Which is why, in hindsight, it's not fair for me to criticize the coaching capabilities of Johnedel Cardel. 

It's impossible to thrive in an environment where there is no continuity and your team seems to be a mere revolving door for stars to come and develop and then go elsewhere.

I tried to reach Terrafirma's hierarchy to ask about their plans of keeping Holt but team governor Bobby Rosales and team manager Ronald Tubid were unavailable. 

They're probably somewhere up there on cloud nine. Good for them, it's just rewards for years of agony. 

BACK ON AIR. Before beginning my newspaper-writing career in 1993, my journalism journey started by calling the live play-by-play of the 1991 NBA Finals at Bombo Radyo.

I recently returned to my roots and have begun a stint as a co-host at the Kwentas Klaras show with Ted Ayeng and Doc Gina Panio over at DYTR Bohol.

There I get to talk about sports, politics, and anything under the sun. There's no place like home. 

2024-04-26T04:09:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd