JVee Casio put on a vintage outing for Blackwater on Friday night that even Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone gave him his flowers.
The Gin Kings did take home the 109-100 win to wake up from its four-game funk in the PBA Governors’ Cup, but not without being made to sweat by a Bossing reprisal in the fourth quarter behind the veteran floor general.
“JVee Casio threw back the clock,” lauded the league’s only 23-time champion mentor after the match at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Casio poured nine points in the said period, all of which he made from beyond the arc as his side managed to meltdown what was seen as an insurmountable 31-point Ginebra lead in the third to just seven twice in the last 1:33.
That acumen he showcased reminded Cone of the very same player from years back that would spearhead gutsy rallies of Alaska.
“He played like he always played 10, 12 years ago. He would always lead those fourth quarter surges by Alaska by hitting those big threes and making steals,” said the 64-year-old, himself a former coach of the Aces.
Casio went on to finish with 27 points, which was easily his best outing in a Blackwater uniform since arriving on the team via trade last October. He was averaging just 5.0 points before Friday’s match.
The 35-year-old shot 9-of-14 from the field, including an impressive 8-of-13 from beyond the arc. He also collected six assists, five rebounds, and two steals in the 35 minutes and 41 seconds he played.
It was too unfortunate, though, that such an outing went for naught as the Bossing fell to their 27th consecutive defeat.
But if it’s any consolation, Casio only proved his head coach Ariel Vanguardia right that he still has a lot more left in the tank at this point of his career.
“He really tossed the clock back there,” Cone said. “I was really surprised and happy for him.
“He’s a nice kid. I like seeing him succeed.”
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