MANILA – Columbian Dyip ended NorthPort Batang Pier’s unbeaten run in the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup after a come-from-behind 110-100 victory last night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Rookie Jeepy Faundo, Jackson Corpuz and Reden Celda led the way with 15 points apiece, while Rashawn McCarthy added double-double 14 points and 12 assists for the Dyip, which improved to 2-1 win-loss slate.
Trailing by as much as 10 points early in the third period, the Dyip slowly clawed its way back behind Jay-R Reyes, Eric Camson and Faundo to seize an 81-77 lead on five straight points by McCarthy.
The Dyip went on to widen its advantage at 91-79 at the onset of the fourth period on a triple by Celda but the Batang Pier trimmed the deficit to 91-96 on a three-pointer by Stanley Pringle.
The Dyip quickly put an end on the Batang Pier’s run with four straight points each from Corpuz and Negrense John Paul Calvo for its largest lead of 105-91. Batang Pier made its last push but could only come to as close as 10 points.
“Well it’s a very big win for us. We defeated a two-zero team,” said Dyip head coach Johnedel Cardel. “We can beat any strong team in the PBA if we play together and continue our patience on offense and defense.”
Pringle finished with 28 points, while Moala Tautuaa and Sean Anthony added 23 and 19 markers, respectively, for the Batang Pier (2-1). Rookie Robert Bolick struggled heavily to finish with three points on 1-of-7 shooting.
In the second game, four-time defending champions San Miguel Beermen bucked the absence of its two veteran players to cruise to a 105-93 domination over the Meralco Bolts.
Down by one at the end of the first period, the Beermen made its move in the second frame behind the torrid outside shooting of Marcio Lassiter and dominant inside presence of June Mar Fajardo to surge to as high as 22 points.
Lassiter finished the match with 25 points, including five triples, while Fajardo chipped in double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Beermen (2-1). Nard John Pinto top-scored for the 1-2 Bolts with 13 markers./PN
