BLACKWATER finally found the game it had long hoped for, playing without an import and yet still pulling off a 100-92 upset of Phoenix Tuesday in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Justin Chua and Christian David each submitted a double-double while Jayvee Casio delivered a vintage performance as the Bossing got their acts together and prevailed despite George King not suiting up at the last moment due to a foot injury he suffered against Converge last Sunday.
Blackwater still overcame the handicap as Chua notched 22 points and 11 rebounds and David submitting his own double-double of 20 and 11 while the 38-year-old Casio scoring 14 points on top of five assists.
Mike Ayonayon chipped in 11 points and four dimes and Jewel Ponferada 10 points and five boards for the Bossing, who showed uncanny poise enroute to notching a third win in 11 games that tied them up with their latest victim.
"I'm really just super proud of these guys tonight. I can't express how proud I am because of the fight, the focus, obviously the energy - you can't do anything without the energy - and the ability to work together," said winning coach Jeff Cariaso.
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"When it's an import conference it's always harder when you don't have an import We didn't know until 30 minutes before the game that he won't be able to play so that was already a sting for us," added Cariaso.
"The idea of the guys just stepping up, everyone, from 1 to 15 stepped up and just ready tonight, just gave their hearts out," Cariaso also said. "I couldn't be more proud of this team. I really loved the fight."
"They really stepped up, they really didn't want to lose," said Casio. "They showed the character we can build on. I believe we have that, unfortunately hindi lang talaga makuha throughout this conference."
The loss was Phoenix's third straight that left it and Blackwater hoping for another win to close out the 12-game eliminations while no other team above them in the standings notch a fourth win for them to tie for the eighth and last quarterfinals slot.
Donovan Smith led all scorers with 32 points, foul-saddled Jason Perkins 19 points and RJ Jazul 12 points for Phoenix, which gamely battled back from an early 15-point deficit to make it a close contest.
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Kenneth Tuffin's corner triple even forged a seventh deadlock at 92-all, but that proved to be the Fuel Masters' last gasp as David, Chua and Ponferada joined hands for a telling 8-0 run that fully pulled the Bossing out of the fire. (NC)
The Scores :
BLACKWATER 100 - Chua 22, David 20, Casio 14, Ayonayon 11, Ponferrada 10, Tungcab 9, Ilagan 7, Escoto 3, Jopia 2, Kwekuteye 2, Guinto 0, Mitchell 0.
PHOENIX 92 - Smith 32, Perkins 19, Jazul 12, Salado 7, Tuffin 5, Alejandro 4, Manganti 3, Tio 2, Ballungay 2, Camacho 2, Garcia 0, Daves 0, Verano 0, Rivero 0.
QUARTERS : 23-17, 51-49, 72-72, 100-92
