MANILA – Blackwater Bossing returned to its winning ways in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a 96-86 victory over Terrafirma Dyip last night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
Bacolodnon Justin Chua posted a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds to go with two assists to be named Player of the Game as the Bossing snapped a two-game slide to climb to a 2-7 win-loss slate.
“I think it is our will to win, we just want to win,” Chua said in a post-game interview. “Just keeping the good attitude and sana maawa ‘yung teammates, just positive energy lang talaga.”
George King led the way for the Bossing with 26 points, but shot 2-of-13 from the four-point line, to go with 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while Mike Ayonayon and Frederick Tungcab had 15 and 11 points, respectively.
“We always talked about that there must be a focus (in our game) and that is defense, because that itself will generate our offense,” said Bossing head coach Jeffrey Cariaso after the game.
Brandone Edwards finished with a double-double of 29 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Dyip, while Mark Sangalang and Brent Paraiso had 17 and 12 points, respectively, as they fell to a 0-10 record.
On Tuesday evening, Alec Stockton caught fire offensively in the fourth quarter to lead Converge FiberXers to a come-from-behind 103-96 victory over Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
Clinging to an 85-81 advantage midway through the fourth quarter, Stockton drilled a three-pointer and a three-point play followed by conversions from Jordan Heading to make it a 102-90 score.
The Painters made their last push to cut the deficit to 96-103 on baskets from Beau Belga and Jhonard Clarito, but the FiberXers tightened their defense in the endgame to secure the victory.
Stockton finished with 21 points, with 17 coming in the fourth quarter, to go with five assists and four rebounds as the FiberXers moved up to solo second place with a 7-3 win-loss slate. The Painters dropped to 5-3./PN
BOX SCORE:
BLACKWATER 96 – King 26, Chua 17, Ayonayon 15, Tungcab 11, David 8, Suerte 7, Escoto 4, Casio 2, Ponferrada 2, Jopia 2, Montalbo 2, Guinto 0.
TERRAFIRMA 86 – Edwards 29, Sangalang 17, Paraiso 12, Pringle 9, Nonoy 9, Ferrer 7, Carino 2, Romeo 1, Hernandez 0, Manuel 0, Ramos 0, Catapusan 0.
Quarterscores: 34-30, 45-49, 71-67, 96-86.
