Blackwater completed a three-game sweep of the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational Basketball elimination round after narrowly escaping Converge, 93-91, on Saturday at the USEP Gym in Davao.
With the win, the Bossing will face the NLEX Road Warriors—who defeated the Phoenix Fuel Masters 100-96 later in the evening—in the finals on Sunday.
Blackwater had previously pulled off a 95-90 upset over NLEX last Friday.
Tied at 87-all in the closing minutes, Sedrick Barefield drained a huge triple with 1:59 remaining to give Blackwater the lead.
Alec Stockton responded immediately with a two-pointer, but on the next possession, Stockton stole the ball from Barefield and missed his shot attempt.
Barefield then made 3-of-6 free throws in the clutch to help fend off the FiberXers.
Barefield led Blackwater with 26 points and seven rebounds, according to stats provided by Madayaw Sports Davao.
Backcourt partner RK Ilagan added a near triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, six steals, and five assists, while BJ Andrade contributed 14 points off the bench.
Troy Mallillin scored 10 points with seven rebounds, and Abu Tratter also tallied 10 points.
For NLEX, Robert Bolick topscored with 27 points, including five triples.
JB Bahio added 16 points and seven rebounds, Xyrus Torres contributed 14 points, and Anthony Semerad chipped in 12 points.
Stockton led Converge with 19 points, while Justine Baltazar recorded a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Tyler Tio paced five Phoenix players in double figures with 14 points, and fellow Atenean Raffy Verano went a perfect 5-of-5 from the field for 12 points.
The Fuel Masters and the FiberXers will battle for third place in the first game of Sunday’s double-header.
The Scores:
First Game:
Blackwater 93 – Barefield 26, Ilagan 16, Andrade 14, Mallillin 10, Tratter 10, Bayla 6, Zamar 3, Comboy 3, Mendoza 2, Murrell 2, Escoto 1, Guinto 0, Jopia 0.
Converge 91 – Stockton 19, Baltazar 14, Garcia 13, Racal 10, Caralipio 9, Santos B. 5, Santos R. 2, Suerte 0, Casio 0, Javillonar 0.
Quarterscores: 26-25, 51-46, 74-64, 93-91.
Second Game:
NLEX 100 – Bolick 27, Bahio 16, Torres 14, Semerad 12, Policarpio 7, Ramirez 7, Herndon 5, Mocon 4, Rodger 3, Valdez 2, Fajardo 0.
Phoenix 96 – Tio 14, Verano 12, Ballungay 11, Tuffin 11, Alejandro 11, Escandor 8, Rivero 8, Daves 7, Manganti 6, Ular 2.
Quarterscores: 27-23, 54-46, 79-61, 100-96.
