Terrafirma is going to stay in the PBA, but the future of the franchise remains up in the air.
This stemmed as the franchise’s supposed buyer, Zamboanga Valientes, didn’t come to terms with the Dyip management, prompting the Columbian Auto Car Corporation to stay on until a new group is going to take over the squad.
The PBA told media recently that whatever happens, the league will have 12 participating squads in time for the new season this October.
Former PBA player Johnedel Cardel and the rest of the members of the coaching staff had already been let go and one of the members of the previous coaching staff told Pinoystep.com that a new owner had already taken over, pending the league’s announcement.
“We were let go, kaya wala na kaming trabaho kasi ang pagkakalam nga namin, may bago nang owners,” said the coach, who requested anonymity.
Aside from Cardel, another key member who’s no longer with the the squad even before the announcement of no deal on the sale was Stanley Pringle, who became an unrestricted free agent and moved to Rain or Shine to sign a two-year deal.
Pringle is just one of the many marquee players who ended up leaving the Terrafirma squad.
Terrafirma had a long history of releasing impactful players through the years — whether they’ve played for the team or player’s playing rights were already dealt to top-tier squads.
In 2017, a controversial deal put the PBA under microscope and divided the board of governors when then commissioner Chito Narvasa approved the trade of Columbian Dyip, then the brand being carried by Terrafirma, which owns the No.1 pick, to powerhouse San Miguel Beer.
The Beermen used the No.1 pick in selecting Fil-German player Christian Standhardinger and in exchange, the Dyip received Ronald Tubid, Jay-R Reyes, Rashawn McCarthy and a future first-round pick.
All these players who were sent to the Dyip would have brief stints in the squad, except Tubid who stayed on to become a team executive.
For the next two seasons, the Dyip had possession of the No.1 pick. In 2018, they selected CJ Perez, then Roosevelt Adams came the next year.
Perez would become the scoring champion of the league for the next two seasons before he would be traded to San Miguel Beer for Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Russell Escoto, Gelo Alolino and two future first-round picks, but just like in the previous years, these players would end up being released by the franchise.
Adams packed his bags and decided to play overseas even as players whom the Dyip selected via the special draft for Gilas Pilipinas players were no longer with the team — Isaac Go (selected as No,1 in 2019) and Jordan Heading (picked as No.1 in 2021). Two more top overall picks Joshua Munzon (2021) and Stephen Holt (2023) were also shipped in separate deals.
Go along with Stephen Holt and Terrafirma’s were traded to Ginebra for Pringle, Standhardinger and Terrafirma’s first-round pick (2024, which Ginebra used in selecting RJ Abarrientos). Munzon was traded for Kevin Ferrer.
The contract of Ferrer along with Aljur Melecio had already expired, according to their agent, Marvin Espiritu, who added that Louie Sangalang and Mark Nonoy still have live contracts with the Dyip.
Another long-time agent, Charlie Dy, also told Pinoystep.com that Brent Paraiso and CJ Catapusan are still under contract with Terrafirma. Dy added that his players’ salaries were given on time.
Even big man Kemark Carino, who played for Gilas Pilipinas several years ago, is still with the Dyip.
With about half of the team still intact, plus the No.1 pick it carries for next season’s draft, Terrafirma can still be able to put up a squad. Whether a new owner is going to take over or the present management will continue bankrolling the team, the Dyip are gearing up for yet another trip.
This time, the route is expected to be a shorter one — until the new owners arrive.
