It looks like the PBA’s lengthy two-week break has benefited Rashawn McCarthy and the Columbian Dyip.
The 6-foot guard exploded for a career-high 30 points on 50 percent shooting from the field, and added eight rebounds and three assists to steer the Dyip to an 86-85 victory over the Meralco Bolts, Wednesday at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“I hit a couple of shots early. I just kept being aggressive,” said McCarthy, whose previous career-high was 23 points. He set the feat back on May 10, 2018, in a 104-96 stunner over Rain or Shine. “The guys are giving me the confidence to be aggressive. My teammates trust me, my coaches trust me.
“I just made shots today. I was a lot more aggressive today looking to attack and make plays for my team.”
But beyond his outing, the three-year pro is more satisfied with the result. The win snapped their three-game losing skid, and improves their win-loss card to 3-4. The Dyip now occupy the ninth spot of the team standings.
“It’s a big win for us, coming off a three-game losing streak,” reflected the product of SUNY–Old Westbury.
Still, the Dyip have no plans to absorb another loss in their upcoming games. For McCarthy, they are keen on making it into the quarterfinals, which is attainable considering their current position in the rankings.
“We’re a young team. Each game is a learning experience for all of us. We showed a lot of heart today. We got to a bad start, just eleven points in the first quarter. But we fought back. We’re not giving up anymore,” the 29-year-old declared.
“We’re in a good position to move into the Top 8 and move to the quarterfinals. I look forward to the challenge on Friday [versus Blackwater Elite].”
