Ali Mubashar was unstoppable to the tune of 50 points as the Terrafirma Dyip go 2-0 in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
Ali Mubashar was firing on all cylinders on Saturday, March 14.
Such kind of night allowed Mubashar to erupt for 50 points, leading the Terrafirma Dyip to a 111-100 overtime win against Converge in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup.
Mubashar also turned in a whopping 25 rebounds and three blocks, as the Dyip raced to a surprising 2-0 lead early in the mid-season tournament.
Before blanking Converge in the last five minutes, Mubashar scored 10 of the team’s last 13 points in regulation, including the basket that sent the game into overtime.
All in all, Mubashar had 39 points in the second half and OT.
But Mubashar shied away from the credit, saying nothing would have been possible without the his teammates’ and coaches.
“Wanna give a shoutout to my teammates. First half, I was fasting I couldn’t really breathe. I was going up and down trying to do my best,” he said.
“But if it wasn’t for my teammates that were helping me carry it, trusting me to keep performing and just keep doing what I can do, nothing will be possible without those guys.”
For Mubashar himself, this explosive performance signals the dawn of a new era at Terrafirma.
“Terrafirma is a new dawn, new day. You better come to the game. Come support us, come show love. We going out hard. We playing hard. We playing together. It’s a new day,” he said after the match at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
Speaking of new, no. 1 rookie Geo Chiu also made his presence felt on both ends when it mattered most. He wound up with nine points, 13 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and two blocks.
Jerrick Ahanmisi scored 14 points, while Paolo Hernandez added 13 for the Dyip.
“This is a team effort. Hindi lang naman si Ali,” said coach Ronald Tubid.
Meanwhile, Kylor Kelley delivered 17 points and 22 rebounds but it wasn’t enough for the FiberXers.
No. 1 pick Juan Gomez de Liaño finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists, Alec Stockton scored 15, while Justine Baltazar had 13 points and 15 rebounds in a losing cause for Converge.
Terrafirma vs Converge Scores:
TERRAFIRMA 111 – Mubashar 50, J. Ahanmisi 14, Hernandez 13, Chiu 9, M.Ahanmisi 8, Bravo 7, Eriobu 6, Umali 4, Adamos 0, Hanapi 0, Zaldivar 0
CONVERGE 100 – Kelley 17, Gomez de Liano 17, Stockton 15, Baltazar 13, Policarpio 11, Concepcion 10, Arana 6, Williams 5, Clemente 3, Garcia 3, Muyang 0
Quarterscores: 24-25, 40-48, 70-75, 100-100, 111-100
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.