THE UST-led Blackwater Sports clobbered Erase Plantcenta, 91-63, to snatch its second victory in the Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League Foundation Cup at the San Juan Gym last March 29.
Blackwater is now tied with Big Chill Superchargers at third place (2-1), half-a-game behind defending champions NLEX Road Warriors (3-0).
Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said that the victory was a wake-up call for his wards who slacked off at the waning minutes of their previous game against the Junior Powerade Tigers.
“It is not enough to win the game. [There must be hard work] because it gives us a lot of discipline,” Isaac said.
Against Placenta, Blackwater was on fire from the get-go, scattering 24 points in the first period while holding down the opponent to a measly nine points.
Blackwater made life even more miserable for Placenta in the third frame, scoring a 15-0 run to go up by 32, 67-35. Kelly Nabong capped the onslaught with a two-handed flush in transition.
Big men Gio Ciriacruz and Nabong led Blackwater with double-double efforts in scoring and rebounding. Ciriacruz posted 19 points and 11 rebounds while Nabong pitched in 15 and 12, including six offensive rebounds. Paul Zamar contributed 16 points, 10 of which came from the fourth quarter.
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The Pido Jarencio-coached RnW Pacific Pipes Steelmasters escaped against the Boracay Rum Waves, 69-67, at the Arena in San Juan last Mar. 27.
Raymond Ilagan hit the game-winning jumper from the free-throw line over Waves’ Maclean Sabanilla with 1.7 seconds left.
Jarencio said that this kind of down-to-wire game helps build his team’s character as opposed to playing with a huge lead.
“Maganda para sa amin na ‘yung mga laro ay dikitan,” Jarencio said. “It helps build character sa mga players, nagkakaroon ng attitude.”
Virgil Buensuceso led the Steelmasters with 18 points on top of five steals.
