TERRAFIRMA DISBANDS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
- Syd Salazar
- Jul 5
- 2 min read
It's official: the Terrafirma Dyip have disbanded their franchise. According to Spin.ph, the team recently held a farewell dinner, and their players are now free to explore other opportunities. A few of their remaining assets are also available for any potential new PBA franchise owner. However, what used to be a 100-million peso deal has now dropped to 70 million.
Ugh.
Hopefully, this price drop reflects concerns from potential buyers about the lack of remaining talent on the roster. It would be disappointing if the lower price simply means the PBA is willing to hand over the franchise to another company that might abandon it once they realize owning a PBA team isn’t as simple as it sounds.
That said, this situation could actually work in favor of serious suitors, especially those from the MPBL. Terrafirma still owns the top pick in the 2025 PBA Draft. They also have Converge's first-round pick in 2026, which they received in exchange for Jordan Heading. The team still holds contracts for Mark Nonoy, Kemark Carino, and Louie Sangalang, and they also own the rights to Stanley Pringle, Terrence Romeo, and Christian Standhardinger.
A team like Basilan Starhorse or the Zamboanga Valientes could easily reclaim their former PBA players and tap into the other PBA free agents in unrestricted free agency, as well as in the MPBL.
Realistically, only top-performing MPBL teams are in a position to compete in the PBA, and fortunately, Zamboanga is one of them.
With Terrafirma's exit, the PBA now has a chance to offer better incentives to new franchise owners. They could organize a dispersal draft or allow an amateur player raid. The league could even schedule more games in the provinces where these MPBL teams are based. When Laguna joined the PBA as the FedEx/Air21 Express, for example, the PBA held multiple games in the province. In a way, this could be the league’s version of a home-and-away format.
While PBA attendance has improved recently, expansion teams still struggle to build strong fan support. Without a standout talent, a solid roster, or a passionate following, it’s tough to imagine a new team getting a smooth path forward.
We’ll see if there are any serious takers. If not, the league may have just welcomed its next farm team.
And while we’re at it, don’t forget to check out my list of the Top 15 Terrafirma players of all time—a tribute to the bright spots in a franchise that, despite the struggles, still gave us unforgettable moments.
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