Columbian Dyip outlast Northport Batang Pier
THE Columbian Dyip got back on the winning track in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup with a 114-108 victory over the Northport Batang Pier on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Lost in their previous game, the Dyip (2-1) skirted dropping two straight early in the seasonending PBA tournament with a lot of resilience and stronger effort in the second half to get the better of the Batang Pier, who fell to 1-2 with the loss.
The backcourt of Robert Bolick and Garvo Lanete gave Northport a strong start, towing their team to a 19-11 lead midway into the opening quarter.
It was a path they would continue to chart and maintain on their way to a 30-22 advantage after the first 12 minutes.
The second period started at a slow pace with both teams piling up the fouls.
Northport continued to hold a 41-31 lead at the 6:44 mark before Columbian, led by CJ Perez, made a 7-1 run in the next minute and a half to come to within four points, 42-38.
But the Batang Pier ended the quarter with an 18-14 run to survive the charge back and build an eight-point separation, 60-52, at the half.
Columbian began the third frame with more bounce as Mr. Perez made his presence felt anew.
The Dyip knotted the count at 74-all at the 5:39 mark of the period.
They would build on the run with RaShawn McCarthy and import Khapri Alston providing added boost.
Columbian completed the turnaround by holding a 90-85 advantage heading into the final canto.
The two teams jostled hard to usher in the fourth quarter, fighting to a 97-95 count by the eight-minute mark and the Dyip still ahead.
Columbian kept Northport at bay for the next three minutes, extending its lead to six points, 103-97.
It was a run it took full advantage of after.
The Dyip were ahead, 112-103, with 1:35 to go.
Northport cut its deficit to four points, 112-108, with a triple from Kevin Ferrer with 23 seconds to go.
It would not come any closer than that though as two made free throws from Reden Celda with 21 ticks left gave Columbian the leverage it needed to secure the win.
Mr. Perez led the Dyip with 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds with Mr. Alston adding 25 and 17.
Mr. McCarthy finished with 18 and Eric Camson 14 points.
For Northport it was Mr. Bolick who showed the way with 23 points, followed by Mo Tautuaa with 22.
“It was a close game but this time we won. I just told the players that we needed to win these kinds of game if want to enter the quarterfinals,” said Columbian coach John Cardel after their win.
“We struggled early on but we were able to bounce back,” he added.