Columbian playoff contention builds up after win over RoS

“Final: 85 – 82 in favor of the Columbian Dyip! Best Player: Rashawn McCarthy with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 7/12 FGs #PBALabanKungLaban” (Photo: PBA/Facebook)

Columbian Dyip absorbed that last-minute win once again, as they triumph over Rain or Shine, 85-82, for another 2019 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup eliminations game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Wednesday, March 6.

Player of the Game Rashawn McCarthy set the pace for Columbian at 22 points, scoring six points in a 10-9 run that allowed the Dyip to get the 55-46 lead in the third quarter. Jackson Corpuz chipped 12 points and eight rebounds, while CJ Perez had a double-double at 11 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie JP Calvo also contributed eight points and eight assists. For the Elastopainters, it was Mark Borboran who was strong at 21 points, but it did not prevent his team from falling to 7-3 in the standings.

Columbian Coach Johnedel Cardel reacted to their win, saying in Filipino, “I just told them, losing to Blackwater (last Friday) that was the last one. We have three more games. We need there three games. One game at a time. We start with this game. We’re just lucky that we won.” He added, “Every quarter we had to fight and play defense, especially in the fourth quarter. We had to give ourselves a chance to win.” He elaborated on his rotation, explaining, “We had a bad start and I told the boys we have to regroup. We started on the defensive end. Jack Corpuz had a good game, the rookies responded and they teamed up with the veterans.”

When it came to talking about their loss, Rain or Shine Coach Caloy Garcia on the other hand, told the media, “We’re not ourselves [tonight]. Maybe they feel like they match up well against us. They hit big shots toward the end.” Big man Beau Belga also thought that his team was “frustrated” and “never learned [their] lesson,” adding, “I actually don’t know what to do. If you were able to see the dugout scene earlier, everyone looked pissed. We thought we had an easier job since we were able to survive the stronger teams.”

Rain or Shine will attempt to get back on that winning run once again as they face the Meralco Bolts on March 15 at the Cuneta Astrodome. On the other hand, Columbian Dyip’s next game is on March 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum once again, facing the Magnolia Hotshots.