Cardel optimistic as Dyip improved chemistry, defense after PBA on Tour

Terrafirma coach John Cardel is tired of seeing the Dyip fail to make the playoffs each conference.

No wonder, Cardel is pleased to see what he believes, are marked improvement on the team at the close of the PBA On Tour.

“The preseason is huge for the team in terms of the players' chemistry,” Cardel told The Manila Times in Filipino.

Terrafirma’s Isaac Go PBA PHOTO

“Our team defense I feel, has improved after each game, and the players now have a good grasp of our team defense,” he added.

Though the Dyip closed the On Tour with a 106-92 loss to the Magnolia Hotshots, who went on to score an 11-game sweep, Cardel chose to stick with the positives.

The Terrafirma mentor noted that incoming sophomores Javi Gomez de Liaño and Allen Mina as well as undersized big man Eric Camson and comebacking slotman Isaac Go got good exposure as well.

“A lot of my players improved their game. Javi got better and so were Mina, Isaac, Drei Cahilig and Juami (Tiongson) were also steady,” he said.

The Dyip head to a two-week break, but intend to regroup after that as they prepare early for the PBA Season 48, which opens on Oct. 15.

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

The Dyip'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.