Call them the Columbian Dyip from now on. PBA Media Bureau (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--The Columbian Autocar franchise just made another face lift name-wise.
The club formerly known as the Kia Picanto will now go by the name Columbian Dyip as it will be featured in the very first game of the PBA Commissioner's Cup on April 22.
In a partial release of the schedule for mid-season conference on Tuesday, Columbian will take on Blackwater in the tournament opener at 4:30 p.m. of the said date at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The nightcap will feature TNT taking on GlobalPort at 6:45 p.m.
The Dyip, however, will once again play on April 25, this time against the Meralco Bolts also at "The Big Dome", preceding the Elite's showdown with the Phoenix Fuel Masters.
Two more teams, Alaska and Rain Or Shine, will debut in the conference against each other on April 27 at 7 p.m., right after the Meralco-GlobalPort game at 4:30 p.m.
Action will then shift to the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay on April 28 as NLEX debuts against Columbian at 4:30 p.m., before the 6:45 p.m. duel between TNT and Phoenix.
Action will then return to the Smart Araneta Coliseum as Ginebra makes its Commissioner's Cup debut against ROS on April 29 at 6:45 p.m., succeeding the Blackwater-Alaska battle at 4:30 p.m.
The Ynares Center in Antipolo will get an early dose of Commissioner's Cup action on May 2 as Elite take on the Batang Pier at 4:30 p.m. and the Road Warriors collide with the Elasto Painters at 7 p.m.
The action will then go back to the Quezon City arena on May 4 with the Meralco-NLEX game at 4:30 p.m. and the Ginebra-TNT showdown at 7 p.m.
The rest of the schedule will be released at a later date, likely right after the Philippine Cup Finals between Magnolia and San Miguel.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno