SAVE for that fateful third quarter, Columbian was in the thick of things in its opening game in the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup against Alaska Sunday.
The Dyip even held a 54-48 lead at halftime against the Aces.
It's just that in those next 12 minutes after the break, Columbian lost grip of the game and eventually lost the game for good.
"Nag-lack kami ng energy at na-outhustle kami nung third," rued CJ Perez as the Aces outscored the Dyip, 34-13, to take hold of a commanding 82-67 advantage. "Di na kami naka-stop nung third kaya nakalayo sila."
The lead even grew to as high as 20, but the feisty Columbian squad still tried to make a game out of it, cutting the deficit to as low as nine.
Time, however, wasn't on their side as the Dyip suffered a 111-98 loss to start the second conference.
It was a tough outing for Columbian, but Perez remains positive especially with the relentlessness his side showed even when it faced too big of a deficit.
"Syempre sobrang proud ako sa team ko. First and second quarters, maganda, pero sa third nawala. Bumalik kami, nabitin lang," said the super-rookie, who finished with 19 points and six rebounds in the losing cause.
But it's still too early for the Dyip to throw in the towel, and Perez is convinced that his side can get things back together come their next games, starting on Friday against Meralco.
"Syempre first game pa lang. Marami pang games na darating so marami pang time na maka-bounce back," he said. "Pagtatrabahuan namin sa practice. Na-discuss namin kanina yung mga dapat ayusin pero for sure, paghahandaan naman nila coach yung mga susunod na games."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
