COLUMBIAN should not be treated lightly and that's now an established fact.
Proving their opening win was no fluke, the Dyip displayed their newfound character anew in pulling the rug from under previously unbeaten NorthPort 110-100 Friday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Jackson Corpuz, Reden Celda, rookies Jeepy Faundo and JP Calvo and Rashawn McCarthy took turns spearheading Columbian's sustained assault as the team refused to be cowed by a 10-point third quarter deficit.
With another rookie in Calvo taking charge with eight of his 12 points in the fourth period, the Dyip posted as much as a 14-point spread that served as ample cushion in the game's last 2:28 and pointed them to their best season start ever.
"Big win again," said Columbian coach Johnedel Cardel, whose team opened up the season with a shocker over San Miguel Beer before bowing to Phoenix just last Wednesday.
Sponsored content:
"I know they (NorthPort) will come out with high intensity because they're 2-0. But I talked to the guys... I told them we can beat any strong team in the PBA if we play together, if we continue to have patience in offense."
The loss, its first in three games, tied the Batang Pier with their conqueror despite Stanley Pringle and Mo Tautuaa coming up with their best offensive game yet.
Pringle finished with 29 points and six assists while Tautuaa netted 23 points on top of 12 rebounds. Sean Anthony also heated up in the second half for 12 of his 19 points and Jonathan Grey also wound up in double figures with 11.
But Columbian simply won't be denied and could thank its better scoring distribution.
Despite playing with sprains on both ankles, Corpuz still wound up with 15 points and eight rebounds. Faundo added 15 and seven and Celda, cleared to play only late Thursday after hitting his head on the floor in the Phoenix game, also had 15 markers.
Sponsored content:
McCarthy only had 14 points but dished out a season-high 12 assists while Eric Camson and CJ Perez each also finished with 12 points with the first overall pick adding seven rebounds and four dimes.
For a while, Columbian seemed ready to fully revert to its old losing ways when it trailed for the most part in the early goings and even stared at a 56-66 deficit when Pringle scored 11 points and Tautuaa had a follow-up dunk during an 11-5 run to start the third period.
Tautuaa, however, had to ride the bench starting at the 8:32 mark of the period for getting slapped with his fifth foul and Pringle also had to rest.
That seemed to be the cue McCarthy needed in scoring 10 of his points in the quarter while Camson, Celda and Faundo also helped out, resulting in a sustained surge that gave the Dyip an 86-79 lead heading to the final 12 minutes of play.
Tautuaa and Pringle returned to help Anthony bring the Batang Pier to within 91-96, but Perez found Corpuz underneath for a short stab, Calvo strung up five straight points and Corpuz a putback for the Dyip's safe 105-91 lead.
The scores:
Columbian 110 - Faundo 15, Corpuz 15, Celda 15, McCarthy 14, Calvo 12, Perez 12, Camson 12, Reyes 8, Escoto 4, Khobuntin 3, Cahilig 0, Agovida 0.
NorthPort 100 - Pringle 29, Tautuaa 23, Anthony 19, Grey 11, Elorde 5, Guinto 4, Taha 4, Bolick 3, Gabayni 2, Flores 0, Arana 0, Lanete 0, Sollano 0.
Quarters: 24-28, 51-55, 86-79, 110-100.
