Columbian Dyip stuns Painters
Columbian Dyip played a lot more cohesive and tougher in its second game with replacement import Bailey John Fields, topping the previously undefeated Rain or Shine squad, 104-96, to again breach the .500 mark in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the MOAArena in Pasay City last night.
More practices with their new reinforcement improved Columbian’schemistry,allowing the team to bounce back from its shattering 103-134 loss to the Alaska Milk Aces despite Fields’ huge 39-point production then.
“That’s the way to bounce back from a bad loss against Alaska. We talked about that at length when preparing for ROS. I told them they didn’t show up against Alaska although in fairness to Alaska they really played well. They took us to school and we learned,” said Columbian coach Ricky Dandan.
The Dyip squad made a big turnaround, and scored another win over Rain or Shine – the lone squad Dandan and his team beat in the recent Philippine Cup.
Rashawn McCarthy rebounded strong from a mere seven-point showing the last time out and Jerramy King, Philip Cahilig, Carlo Lastimosa, Roider Cabrera and Reden Celda also put in sterling efforts as Columbian Dyip nailed a third win against two losses.
Fields definitely made the biggest difference in Columbian’s second win over ROS in the season.
“He’s fresh from the Greek league and he’s used to playing big imports. That’s the reason why we took him in,” said Dandan of their replacement to CJAiken.
“It looked like a big gamble but I have absolute faith how he would be able to help us,” Dandan added.
Fields endured a battle with the much bigger Reggie Johnson, coming through with 34 points on 13-of-17 clip and adding 11 rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block against four turnovers.
McCarthy provided a big support with 23 markers, including six triples, while Cabrera played quality minutes at the finish, grabbing five rebounds and chipping in three points.
Columbian was ahead just by three at 97-94 when Cabrera scored a basket then took a steal that Fields translated into two free throws.
The E-Painters failed to recover and suffered a first loss in four games in the mid-season tourney.
Columbian Dyip took the half at 58-53 with Fields putting in 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists and the other starters chipping in at least seven markers each.
They enjoyed an 11-point lead at 58-47 on a three-point play by McCarthy off Jay Washington in the final minute of the second quarter.
But the E-Painters stayed right behind the Dyip squad before opening the third with quarter with an eight-to-nothing salvo to grab the lead at 61-58. —