The good times are rolling for the Blackwater Elite in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
On Saturday evening, the Elite mauled the NLEX Road Warriors, 132-106, to notch their fifth win in six games to regain the leadership of the mid-season joust and to move on the cusp of clinching a spot in the quarterfinals.
That, however, isn’t enough for the five-year-old franchise to be happy about, given what had happened before.
Looking back in the 2018 Governors’ Cup when they still had Bong Ramos as head coach, the Elite started the conference with four consecutive wins, and that eventually led them to an impressive 6-1 record — their best in franchise history.
But it all went downhill afterward. Blackwater lost its next four outings and also the chance of bagging a twice-to-beat incentive. They would go on to bow out in the quarterfinals against eventual champions Magnolia Hotshots.
Current head coach Aris Dimaunahan, then an assistant to the seasoned Ramos that time, knows it all too well.
“We started 4-0 some conferences back, but somehow that time medyo nag-letup mga players, medyo nawala sa focus, medyo nag-celebrate at medyo nagkaroon ng konting complacency,” recalled the youthful tactician.
The next games of the Elite will definitely be crucial, for it may tell if they have really learned their lesson well.
Blackwater will be facing the San Miguel Beermen on June 14 before taking on the surging NorthPort Batang Pier eight days later. Then, they would be figuring in a lengthy break before facing the Magnolia Hotshots on July 5.
The Terrence Jones-powered TNT KaTropa is next for them after facing the Hotshots on July 7, and the Alaska Aces will be their final assignment in the eliminations on July 14. That, truly, will be tough assignments.
Allein Maliksi is also well aware of the woes they had before. And as they aim to prevent that from happening again, the veteran gunslinger, who’s been with Blackwater since 2017, said that they simply need to focus.
“We just need to focus and play together as a team,” he said. “Trust coach Aris’ system, trust each other.
“Lahat naman sobrang focused ngayon, na whatever they can contribute and can help the team to win, ginagawa ng bawat isa.”
