Thankfully, Akeem Wright won’t be heading back home empty-handed.
After losing nine straight games, the versatile 6-foot-5 import finally experienced a victory in his first-ever foray in the Philippines as his Columbian Dyip mauled the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 100-84, Friday evening.
Wright could also tell everybody that he was part of history, as he helped Columbian break their lengthy 25-game losing skid in the season-ending conference – they last won in the Governors’ Cup back in 2016.
“It feels good you know, to finally get one,” said Wright, who led the Dyip with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
But if he were asked, the 33-year-old from Philadelphia believes that Columbian’s streak should have been over earlier, citing their games versus the Meralco Bolts and the NLEX Road Warriors as games they nearly got it.
“My personal feeling is we should have broken that streak [earlier],” opined Wright. “We were up fifteen against Meralco, we were up nine on NLEX in the third quarter… it’s stuff like that you can look back on and say we were there.”
Still, a win is a win, and Wright is incredibly grateful.
“We can be thankful for this win and hopefully we can get another one next Saturday,” he said, as they will be facing Henry Walker and the surging Blackwater Elite for their final game of the season next Saturday, October 27.
They may still have one more game left, but the veteran journeyman is already looking ahead. For him, he would love to come back to the Philippines.
“The losing has been frustrating but overall my experience has been great,” said Wright. “If Columbian would want me back, I would love to come back.
“If not maybe another team, we’ll see, but I would love to come back.”
