PBA IMAGES
Free agent pickup Jerramy King formed a lethal 1-2 combination with Rashawn McCarthy as Columbian Dyip whipped Blackwater, 126-98, on Sunday night for a rousing debut in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
King, who hardly saw action for Rain or Shine last season, exploded for a career-high 30 points, while McCarthy, part of the deal that sent top pick Christian Standhardinger to San Miguel, scattered 22 points for the Dyip, which scored only its second win of the season.
“This is a good morale boost for us,” said Dyip coach Ricky Dandan, whose last win came on Jan. 20 when their team then known as Kia Picanto stunned Rain or Shine, 98-94, in the Philippine Cup to snap a 16-game skid.
Picked up to fill the team’s shortage of playmakers, King immediately made an impact with the best performance of his career so far as the former fourth round pick by NLEX sparked the breakaway against a listless Blackwater squad.
“Even during the first conference, we were already thinking of moving Rashawn to the two-spot,” Dandan said.
“But we needed to look for a point guard. We searched the free agent pool and we saw Jerramy. That is why we made a move on him.”
King also had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Dyip, which guns for a second straight win on Wednesday against Meralco, also at the Big Dome.
In the nightcap, TNT Ka-Tropa flaunted its newfound depth and firepower as it overwhelmed GlobalPort, 128-114, in a highly-physical game.
Jayson Castro came off the bench to finish with 21 points and 10 assists for the KaTropa, who unveiled new recruit Terrence Romeo.
The formal GlobalPort playmaker wound up with 11 points against the team that drafted him five years ago.
With the outcome already settled, the game almost got out of hand with altercations between between Jessie Saitanan and Malcolm White, Jeremy Tyler and Mo Tautuaa, and Joseph Gabayni and Roger Pogoy, among others.
“It’s nice the PBA is allowing physicality, but if it gets to a point where players hurt each other, then we should question that,” TNT coach Nash Racela said.
With Romeo inserted into the lineup, the KaTropa had the luxury of putting Castro on the bench to start the game. The veteran playmaker came out strong in TNT’s opening game, although Racela believes his role goes beyond what he does on the court.
“What’s key now is Jayson’s guidance on players like Terrence (Romeo),” said Racela. “He’s embracing that role of mentoring younger players just like the way Jimmy (Alapag) guided him in the past.”
Racela is tempering his expectations on Romeo, who sat out almost the entire Philippine Cup while he was with GlobalPort due to an injury.
“It’s acceptable, this is just Terrence’s fourth game and he’s not yet in playing shape, but he did what we expected him to do,” said Racela.