STRUGGLED SIGNIFICANTLY in the just-concluded season of the Philippine Basketball Association, the Columbian Dyip look to have a better campaign next year with added help from the young cogs they were able to pluck from the rookie draft.
One of the busier teams in the annual draft held on Dec. 16, Columbian said it is satisfied with the players it was able to get and is now evaluating them in the practices to see what contributions the team can get from them.
In the draft last Sunday, the Dyip selected five players, two inside the first round — Cjay Perez as the first overall and JP Calvo at ninth.
They then selected guards Cyrus Tabi (18th) in the second round and Teytey Teodoro (23rd) in the third before picking forward Oliver Arim (33rd) in the fourth round.
Columbian coach John Cardel said he is impressed with what he has seen so far from said players and excited over the possibly of incorporating them to the team.
“Monday was our first practice with the rookies and we’re really happy with how they performed. Cjay, Calvo, Tabi, Arim, and Teodoro are the type of players that we need — rookies that can run, hustle and give extra passes to my veterans. I also like the way they competed with the veterans of the team,” said Mr. Cardel, whose team had an overall record of 6-27 in the 2018 season of the PBA, albeit the coach only handled the squad in the third conference, following Chris Gavina and Ricky Dandan at the Columbian bench.
Mr. Cardel said he has high hopes, in particular, with Mr. Perez, who he sees figuring prominently in their push come next season.
“Cjay can help us in so many ways. Apart from scoring, he is a team player and an energy guy who I hope can influence the rest of the team,” Mr. Cardel said of the former National Collegiate Athletic Association most valuable player from the Lyceum of the Philippine University.
The Columbian coach also said he does not see the top rookie pick having much of a hard time transitioning to the PBA.
“While he is a rookie, he acts like a veteran. I was able to talk to him and said ‘Don’t look at yourself as a rookie. Just think you have been in the league for some time now. And he is responding well,” Mr. Cardel said.
As for guards Calvo, Tabi and Teodoro, Mr. Cardel said they are making strong cases for themselves for the guard-deep roster he is envisioning for the Dyip.
“I’m looking at deepening my guard rotation. We already have Jerramy King and RaShawn McCarthy but I need players who can help the veterans stay fresh late in the game. Calvo and Tabi I like their decision-making as well,” Mr. Cardel said.
“As for Teytey, he is a streaky shooter and in the PBA such players are already rare. So we can use a player like him as well who can deliver the points when called upon,” he added. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
