ANTIPOLO – It felt like Taiwan all over again for Sedrick Barefield and Robert Upshaw III as they ran it back together and ultimately steered Blackwater to its maiden win in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, Sunday evening.
Once teammates at Tainan TSG of the now-defunct T1 League back in 2023, the tandem rekindled their on-court chemistry to power the Bossing to an upset of Magnolia — and end as well a 12-game skid dating back to the last conference.
“Everybody was involved in the game, and we were able to get a win to break a 12-game losing streak for the team,” said the 7-foot center moments after their 97-91 victory at the Ynares Center here, clearly aware of his new team’s history.
Upshaw himself finished with 35 points and 14 rebounds, while Barefield fired 26 points, spiked by six threes. The two led the strong windup by connecting on crucial shots from beyond the arc that finished off the Hotshots.
And that kind of familiarity wasn’t just because of their Taiwan campaign years ago. According to the former No. 2 overall pick, they’ve actually known each other since they were younger, as both of them hail from California.
“Rob played for my dad when I was a kid,” the 26-year-old Barefield disclosed. “I was on the other team. But we weren’t really close until I played in Taiwan a few years ago and we were on the same team, and I got to know him.”
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Sedrick’s father, Ray, formerly played for San Diego State and went on to become a coach. One player he’d mentor was Upshaw, when he was coaching at the youth level before making his way into the collegiate ranks.
“His dad was actually my coach for our travel basketball team, and we’ve just had a really good relationship,” shared the 32-year-old big man.
“We played together in Taiwan, so we’ve been really close for a very long time.”
As if that reunion in Tainan City wasn’t enough, fate would bring them back together three years later, when Blackwater, particularly assistant coach Ryan Alba, was searching for a replacement for the injured Daniel Ochefu.
Fast forward to Sunday, and their reconnection would also enable their team to align their campaign on the right track at the expense of a perennial contender.
“We were struggling a little bit at that time [when I arrived], but it’s always gonna happen when you bring somebody new into this situation. We were able to fight through that, and we were able to get the win,” said Upshaw.
With Coach Jeff Cariaso discovering a potential 1-2 combo to lead the front, Upshaw himself is getting confident of their chances as well, since he and Barefield already know one another — and what it takes to win.
“I think me and Sedrick’s chemistry is really good, and I think that’s going to be something that helps the team win these games,” he said.
“Because he’s a really good player, I’m a really good player. And we’re gonna also allow the other players on our team to play how they wanna play.”
