NEW Blackwater coach Jeffrey Cariaso is sticking with the Bossing old crew, at least in their campaign in the PBA on Tour starting Sunday versus the NLEX Road Warriors at the Caloocan Sports Complex in Bagumbong, Caloocan.
The management and the coaching staff are convinced they have a competitive lineup, which should have been a playoff contender if not plagued by injuries in the Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup last season.
Led by heady guards JV Casio, Baser Amer and Rashawn McCarthy, the Bossing made the quarterfinals in the last Philippine Cup then bombed out of contention early in the next two conferences with several key players sidelined by injuries.
They all hope to enjoy good health as they take a look at their lineup in the preseason PBA series set May 21 to July 30.
Casio, Amer and McCarthy still lead the roster that includes RK Ilagan, Mike Digregorio, Rey Suerte, Renato Ular, James Sena, Troy Rosario, Tyrus Hill, Richard Escoto, Mike Ayonayon, Rey Publico, Joshua Torralba, Yousef Taha and Gab Banal.
Sponsored content: A trade recruit from TNT, Rosario hardly saw action in his first season with Bossing, spending much of the time on the injured list.
In the PBA on Tour kickoff, the Bossing face an NLEX team which also kept its old nucleus, except JR Quinahan whose contract the team has rescinded.
Kevin Alas, Don Trollano and Sean Anthony banner the team that will include Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, fresh from his stint with the gold medal-winning Gilas team in the Cambodian Southeast Asian Games.
Also in the lineup is old warrior Asi Taulava.
Tzaddy Rangel, Reden Celda, Mike Miranda, Clint Doliguez, Kris Rosales, Philip Paniamogan, Matt Nieto, Dominic Fajardo, Hesed Gabo, Bong Galanza and Anthony Semerad will also be there, ready to answer the call of coach Frankie Lim.
Sponsored content: The Bossing and the Road Warriors will be featured on a lone match starting at 5 p.m. Sunday in Caloocan.
On Wednesday, action swings over to the Ynares Sports Arena - the regular venue in this preseason series.
It will be NorthPort versus Meralco at 5 p.m. then Phoenix Super LPG against San Miguel Beer at 7:50 p.m. (SB)