Blackwater upgrades from Elite to Bossing

Blackwater is not going anywhere, as team owner Dioceldo Sy has had a change of heart after putting the franchise up for sale.

As proof, the team changing its moniker from Elite to Bossing, which it will carry once the suspended PBA season resumes.

The development was first reported by Abac Cordero of the Philippine STAR, Saturday afternoon.

“Mas masa ‘pag Bossing. Tsaka idol natin si Vic (Sotto),” Sy, the Ever Bilena Cosmetics founder, was quoted as saying.

Sy made headlines last month after saying in an online interview that his team had begun practices ahead of the league’s planned schedule.

That caught the attention of the PBA and the Games and Amusement Board, as the team allegedly violated health protocols amidst the pandemic.

Later, in an interview with Tiebreaker Times, Sy clarified that it was not a practice but rather a shoot-around, with only two players and a ball boy.

Still, Blackwater was slapped a hefty 100,000-fine, and the Commissioner’s Office ordered all players and staff to undergo swab tests.

Aside from the penalty, Sy was also probed by the league after announcing that the franchise is up for sale for P 150 million.

The self-made billionaire, though, had already apologized to GAB chair Baham Mitra and PBA chief Willie Marcial for the matter.

Blackwater joined Asia’s pioneering pro league in 2014 as an expansion team, along with NLEX and Kia, which has rebranded to Terra Firma.

The team is in rebuilding mode yet again under new head coach Nash Racela and is banking on main man Mac Belo.