THE Columbian Dyip got off to a fine start in the PBA Commissioner's Cup, no little thanks to an offense anchored on a new driver and a defense that seemed to be precisely what coach Ricky Dandan wanted.
Whether the team formerly known as Kia could do a fitting follow-up would be known Wednesday when it collides with a Meralco crew energized by its own desire to do a big rebound from another dismal opening to the season.
"We're up against a team that has been able to scout and prepare for us," noted Dandan on the eve of the 4:30 p.m. match set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Dandan was referring to the way the Bolts' staff came out in force last Sunday to personally witness how the Dyip dismantled the Blackwater Elite, 126-98.
New recruit Jerramy King played a key role in the victory, notching a career-high 30 points which was four more than the grand total the playmaker posted in the first nine games he played for original PBA team Rain or Shine.
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The 28-point win is the all-time largest margin for the franchise and also largely made possible by its 22 steals, just one off the all-time record.
But Meralco is a far different team than Blackwater and a far tougher nut to crack, notwithstanding its 11th place finish in the Philippine Cup.
The Bolts would still be missing stretch forward Ranidel de Ocampo (mild Achilles tear), but Cliff Hodge and Jared Dillinger are fully recovered from their own injuries.
The biggest comeback for Meralco, however, is Arinze Onuaku.
The wide-bodied 6-8 averaged 18.7 points, 17.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 17 games for the Bolts in the 2016 edition of the tournament where they got as far as the semi-finals and he bagged the Best Import award.
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While Baser Amer, Chris Newsome and the other Meralco locals could heat up, Dandan admitted Onuaku is the main focus of his team's preparations.
"We worked on counters and adjustments, especially against Onuaku," said Dandan, who is expected to also rely on Rashawn McCarthy, Carlo Lastimosa, Eric Camson and Jackson Corpuz the most.
Columbian's own import, CJ Aiken, debuted with 22 rebounds and six steals but only nine points on just eight attempts, prompting Dandan to state the wiry 6-9 should be more aggressive.
"We'll see how it goes," said Dandan.(NC)
