Columbian Dyip on a roll, stun Road Warriors
Games today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Blackwater vs Alaska 6:45 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Ginebra
ANTIPOLO – Columbian Dyip still burst with energy and intensity playing a third game in seven days, stunning NLEX with a lopsided 123-103 victory in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Ynares Sports Center here last night.
Playing with a tremendous aggressiveness and an admirable confidence, the much-improved Columbian Autocar Corp. ball club tore apart the NLEX side which, for its part, struggled with injuries to key players and lack of preparation with late import replacement Adrian Forbes.
CJ Aiken, Reden Celda, Jerramy King, Rashawn McCarthy and Eric Camson jumped the gun on the Road Warriors, and the team fought relentlessly all throughout to fashion out a ghastly rout in the Petron Blaze Saturday Special.
With its 2-1 tournament start, Columbian is now assured of improvement from its 1-10 showing in the recent Philippine Cup.
“We just want to make a better showing. We have new guys who are stepping up and everybody’s stepping up. Coach is pushing us to work hard and it’s paying off,” said McCarthy, who flirted with a near triple-double job with 13 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.
Columbian coach Ricky Dandan, meanwhile, once again attributed their improvement on their change of attitude.
“It’s not from the change in personnel. It’s the change of attitude. And I will talk to the guys to guard themselves from slipping back to the team’s old attitude,” Dandan said.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine guns for a second straight win against the debuting Barangay Ginebra team as action shifts back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight. Alaska Milk (0-2) and Blackwater (0-2) play in the 4:30 p.m. opener before the Elasto Painters and the Kings clash at 6:45 p.m.
Odds are on the E-Painters’ side with their good showing Friday plus the fact that the Kings crammed in preparation for the match because of their import change.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone, however, remains positive.
“We’re all looking forward to getting this conference started. Granted, Greg (Slaughter), Jervy (Cruz) and Paolo (Taha) are out and our import (Charles Garcia) is having a hard time adjusting to the heat and humidity, but the rest of the guys are ready and excited to go,” said Cone. “Rain or Shine is always a tough, physical matchup for us, but we’re ready to battle.”
In the second game, TnT Katropa pulled away in the second half to turn back Phoenix, 106-98, to take the solo early lead with a 2-0 record.
“It’s too early in the conference. The Big Three haven’t played yet,” said coach Nash Racela. The scores: First Game COLUMBIAN 123 – Aiken 28, Celda 26, King 23, Camson 13, McCarthy 13, Corpuz 6, Escoto 5, Khobuntin 4, Sara 3, Tubid 2, Lastimosa 0, Cabrera 0.
NLEX 103 – Forbes 26, Quiñahan 20, Fonacier 12, Baguio 11, Tiongson 10, Ravena 9, Soyud 8, Taulava 5, Miranda 2, Buenafe 0, Rios 0, Monfort 0, Ighalo 0.
Quarterscores: 33-21, 62-50, 95-80, 123-103 Second Game TNT 106 – Romeo 21, Castro 18, Tyler 17, Cruz 14, Rosario 13, Reyes 7, Golla 5, Trollano 5, Pogoy 3, Semerad 2, Carey 1, Saitanan 0, Paredes 0.
Phoenix 98 – White 32, Perkins 12, Wright 12, Jazul 7, Kramer 6, Mendoza 6, Alolino 6, Chan 5, Chua 4, Eriobu 2, Gamboa 2, Wilson 2, Intal 1, Dehesa 1, Hayes 0, Revilla 0.
Quarterscores: 26-26, 49-47, 83-67, 106-98