Ortiz is ‘right fit’ for Blackwater

BLACKWATER head coach Jeff Cariaso believes the changing hoops landscape in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is one important aspect every head coach needs to understand.

Unlike the conventional practice in the past when ball clubs tap imports who play big in the post at the Commissioner’s Cup, coaches are now starting to bring in reinforcements who are more versatile.

Chris Ortiz (32) lead the Puerto Rico national team to a 3-2 win-loss record in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. FIBA. BASKETBALL PHOTO 

For Cariaso, Blackwater’s import Chris Ortiz is the “right fit” for the team.

“He’s (Ortiz) Puerto Rican, but born in the US, and went to college in the US, had Puerto Rican descent which is why he can play for the national team,” Cariaso told The Manila Times on Thursday.

“And upon finding out that league in Puerto Rico (where Ortiz played), aside form them playing more than one import, that league is like ours (in the PBA), and how the fans are so passionate, even the rules and how players play so when we had a chance to pick up a guy like Chris, we felt he could be a good fit.”

The 30-year-old Ortiz has played in six tune-up matches with the Bossing since joining the team shortly after the 2023 FIBA World Cup where he saw action for the Puerto Rico national squad that concluded its campaign in Manila with a 3-2 record.

The Puerto Rican forward has shown he can do a lot more — from scoring, passing, rebounding and defending — which Cariaso feels is what the Bossing needed in Season 48, which starts on November 5.

“Because we know how everyone plays now, imports that are here are not the big imports we know anymore. That’s where we are now, and our league, especially this time, is picking imports who can be versatile, and can shoot the three. And for us, he’s what we needed most,” said Cariaso, who has been a proven winner since his playing days with Alaska where he won a total of eight PBA championships, including the 1996 Grand Slam.

The soft-spoken Blackwater coach said that in the past, he would normally bring in foreign reinforcements who can play the post but with Ortiz, he feels they got an import who can bring in his experience to a Bossing side that is itching to make it deep into the playoffs.

“I’ve normally gotten imports who play inside, who play big, but this is the first time we have a legit stretch four guy, and he’s working out well so far,” said Cariaso. “He’s got good experience, and played in several countries.”

Before the FIBA World Cup, Ortiz suited up for Manati in the Puerto Rico BSN where he averaged 18.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 33 games this year.

Aside from playing Magnolia, Converge and Meralco in tune-up games, Blackwater also joined the just-concluded Converge Pocket Tournament, where the team placed second with a 2-1 record.