MANILA — Blackwater Bossing erased the memory of one of its worst defeats in franchise history by dismantling Rain or Shine, 131-108, in a commanding opening-day victory in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup on Saturday night at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
The emphatic triumph not only gave Blackwater a winning start in Group A but also served as sweet revenge after absorbing a league-worst 55-point loss to the Elasto Painters in the recent Commissioner’s Cup. It was likewise only the Bossing’s second victory in their last 17 meetings against Rain or Shine.
Import Kentrell Barkley spearheaded the rout with a triple-double of 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Sedrick Barefield and RK Ilagan provided steady offensive support as Blackwater overwhelmed Rain or Shine from start to finish.
The Bossing seized control early behind Barkley, who made his first six field-goal attempts to ignite a blistering start. His hot shooting powered Blackwater to a 36-25 advantage after the opening quarter.
Rain or Shine managed to cut the deficit to eight points in the second period, but Blackwater answered with timely baskets to restore a comfortable cushion and carried a 72-56 lead into halftime.
The Bossing buried any hopes of a comeback in the third quarter as Barefield and Ilagan sparked another scoring run, allowing Blackwater to stretch the lead to as many as 34 points and put the game beyond reach.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Fuel Masters also opened their campaign with a victory after rallying from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots, 98-86.
Import BJ Johnson starred with a double-double of 34 points and 10 rebounds to earn Player of the Game honors as Phoenix joined Blackwater atop Group A with identical 1-0 records.
Phoenix trailed by as many as 16 points in the opening half before turning the game around after the break. Johnson fueled the third-quarter comeback as the Fuel Masters outscored Magnolia to take an eight-point lead entering the final period.
The Fuel Masters widened the gap to as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter after Tyler Tio buried a three-pointer.
Magnolia trimmed the deficit to nine late in the game, but Tio responded with another triple to extinguish the Hotshots’ final rally and seal the win for Phoenix./PN
