Blackwater aims for another win

BLACKWATER guns for its second win and the early lead when it tangles with Meralco as action in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup continues on Saturday, November 11, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

The Bossing kicked off the season with an impressive 103-84 rout of the Converge FiberXers on Wednesday night, despite playing without injured guards Baser Amer and RK Ilagan and forward Ato Ular, who had been in sick bay days before the start of the season.

GAME-CHANGER Import Chris Ortiz (32) leads Blackwater with 21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks against Converge on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. PBA IMAGE 

They will try to build on that momentum and shoot for another win when they clash with the Bolts at 3 p.m.

Winning has been a problem for the franchise owned by sportsman and businessman Dioceldo Sy considering that the Bossing won just nine games for the entire Season 47. But all that can change as coach Jeff Cariaso tries to inject a winning mindset and culture within the team.

“We know the state of the team, that the current lineup is pretty much all the same lineup as last year and they were part of that grueling lineup last year,” said Cariaso, whose team drew all-around numbers of 21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks from Puerto Rican reinforcement Chris Ortiz.

“The mindset has been our focus, on helping improve the culture.”

Ular, who played a solid rookie year, has a strong chance of playing against the Bolts, according to team manager Johnson Martinez.

Amer, however, will not be available on Saturday as he continues to recover from a calf muscle injury he sustained just days before the start of the season.

The Bossing are expected to have their hands full against the Bolts who also won last Wednesday against Rain or Shine, 107-102.

Nigerian import Suleiman Braimoh gave the Bolts a huge lift with his 34-point, 14-rebound PBA debut in the win over Meralco.

Meanwhile, TNT and Converge look to bounce back from setbacks when they collide at 6:15 p.m.

The Tropang Giga bowed to the Magnolia Hotshots, 110-102 on opening night.

Quincy Miller, subbing for the ailing original import choice Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (gastroenteritis), led TNT with 37 points and 14 rebounds. He will be facing his former team this time.

TNT will continue to miss the services of injured big men Poy Erram and Justin Chua as well as Roger Pogoy and Mikey Williams.

The FiberXers are also adjusting to a new roster since veterans Maverick Ahanmisi and Jeron Teng left the team during the offseason, opting to sign new deals with Barangay Ginebra and San Miguel Beer, respectively.