By Waylon Galvez
Games Today
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – Columbian Dyip vs Meralco
7 p.m. – Phoenix Fuel vs Blackwater
The Columbian Dyip are determined to prove they’re more than just a one-game wonder when they take on formidable Meralco Bolts today with a chance to seize the solo lead in the 2018 Honda PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
They’re coming off a rousing 126-98 win against Blackwater Elite in the opener last Sunday and a strong follow-up in their 4:30 p.m. encounter with the Bolts, bannered by former PBA Best Import Arinze Onuaku, will put them in pole position for the first time ever.
Dyip coach Ricky Dandan, however, knows it won’t be easy.
“We’ll face a tough team in Meralco with Arinze Onuaku… and we all know who Onuaku is,” he said, referring to the NBA veteran who hoisted the Best Import plum in 2016.
Also expected to be an exciting encounter is the main header at 7 p.m. between Blackwater, whose import Jarrid Famous had 35 points and 22 rebounds in his first game with the Elite, and Phoenix Fuel, which will parade former Kia (now Columbia Dyip) reinforcement James White.
The Bolts themselves could have their hands full if the Dyip’s underrated yet dangerous solid crew, led by castoffs Jeremy King and Rashawn McCarthy, can pick up from there they left off the last time out.
King, who previously played for Rain or Shine, exploded for a career-best 30 points, making 10 of his 20 attempts from the field, including five from three-point area, on top of seven rebounds, fours assists and three steals in more than 37 minutes of action off the bench.
Even McCarthy, who played sparingly when he was still with San Miguel Beer, added 22 points while three other local teammates – Carlo Lastimosa (14), Eric Camson (12) and Ronald Tubid (12) – also scored in double figures.
Their collective production proved enough to fill up the scoring slack from first-time PBA import Charles Aiken who scored only nine points. But he was a force inside the shaded lane as he collared 22 rebounds and two shots blocks.
Up against Onuaku and the Bolts, Dandan is expecting more from Aiken on the offensive end.
“These first three games is like a test for him (Aiken), so we’ll see,” he said when asked on the possibility of replacing import although he is satisfied with the rebounding prowess Aiken showed in their first game.
That huge 28-point winning margin of Columbian Dyip is a new franchise best, eclipsing the 14-point winning margin in a 103-89 triumph over Alaska diring the 2015 Commissioner’s Cup.
