Teams in the middle of the pack all look to move their way up in the resumption of the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup.
Columbian Dyip (3-2) once again wants to pull off another shocker when it takes on the challenge from Magnolia (1-1) at 4:30 p.m. in the opening salvo at the Smart Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Right after, GlobalPort (2-2) and NLEX (1-3) do their own battle at 7 p.m.
As the elimination round gains steam, some teams continue to find the right and consistent winning formula. All four teams playing are still in the process of finding consistency.
The Dyip, however, are showing that league that they belong despite the criticism they received the past year in terms of personnel movements.
In five starts, Columbian had shown that it has a new identity along with its new name.
Columbian’s latest victim was Rain or Shine as it dealt the erstwhile unbeaten and league-leading Elasto Painters their first taste of defeat, 104-96, last week.
The backcourt duo of Rashawn McCarthy and Jerramy King along with import John Fields are all doing wonders for the Dyip. For McCarthy, one word motivates the team.
“We got a lot of pride,” emphasized McCarthy, who is proving to be one of the rising guards in the league. “We don’t want a repeat of what happened last conference, where everything’s disappointing. That’s why we’re putting the work to turn it around.”
This time, McCarthy and his pals would have to deal with the Philippine Cup runner-up, who had finally cracked the winning column with a tough 92-87 victory over the Batang Pier last Saturday in Pampanga.
While GlobalPort was coming off a tough loss, its foe might very well have momentum on its side.
After three failed attempts to start their campaign, the Road Warriors were finally able to list a win when they edged out Phoenix, 120-115, in overtime last Friday.