When called upon to start, Manila-Frontrow forward Mark Dyke made sure to go all-out, talling his first double-double of the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season.
Dyke posted 17 points and 10 rebounds, including five on the offensive end, helping the Stars clobber Bacolod Master Sardines, 87-70, at the San Andres Sports Complex on Friday.
But the soft-spoken forward was just returning the favor to Manila’s coaching staff, headed by Tino Pinat and Ariel Vanguardia.
“Entering the game pa lang, focused na talaga ako kasi binibigyan ako ng confidence nila coach, lagi na nila akong iniistart. Ayaw ko lang mawala ‘yung tiwala nila sa akin, so ibinabalik ko lang sa kanila,” said the 6-foot-3 forward, who was released by La Salle last April.
Dyke, who is just 22 years old, also went a perfect 2-of-2 from the three-point line, including a big triple in the 3:01 mark of the fourth period that gave the Frontrow-backed Stars an insurmountable 21-point advantage, 80-59.
And that was just how Dyke imagined it — for him to shoot the lights out from downtown after putting much work in his shot.
“College pa lang, three-points na talaga ‘yung wino-work ko kasi grabe nung high school, wala talaga akong shooting. Lagi kong kasama mag-practice ng shooting si Carlo (Lastimosa), minsan nagpupustahan pa kami para mas challenging. Kaya ayon, naayos ko na ang shooting ko.”
With defensive ace Aris Dionisio leaving Manila after this season following his selection in the PBA Draft, Dyke is ready to take the role that Dionisio will vacate.
“Thankful ako na nakasama ko si Aris kasi marami akong natututunan sa kanya. Kapag pinapanood ko siya, sinusubok kong gayahin kung paano siya maging aggresive. Tinatry ko iapply sa laro ko at buti nagwo-work naman.”
In other games, Biboy Enguio’s big double-double lifted Muntinlupa-Angelis Resort over Iloilo, 96-92, while Valenzuela Carga Backload Solutions survived a fourth-quarter rally by Sarangani, 89-84.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Thel Suliva
