Kentrell Barkley presided over the strong finish as Blackwater frustrated Magnolia anew, 89-81, for back-to-back wins to start its PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup campaign on Friday night at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The former IBL MVP finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds, including a one-handed touchdown slam with 32.8 seconds left to play for the exclamation point to the Bossing’s hot 10-0 finishing kick after staring at an 81-79 deficit.
He scored eight in the said rally as the American winger starred anew in helping the franchise take down another league heavyweight after beating a perennial semifinal team in Rain or Shine, 131-108, last Saturday in Montalban.
(C) PBA Images
“Masaya ako kasi my players are having fun,” offered head coach Pat Aquino when asked about this truly promising start for a team hoping to turn its fortunes around after another dismal campaign in the recent Commissioner’s Cup.
RK Ilagan, the reigning PBA Press Corps Player of the Week, continued his fine play with 20 points, including a pair of free throws in the closing run.
Dalph Panopio supplied 12 points, while Sedrick Barefield added 10 markers for a team that missed the services of Christian David due to a knee injury.
Blackwater will try to push its unbeaten streak to three games when it battles Meralco on Tuesday, July 21, at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
(C) PBA Images
KJ Buffen led Magnolia with 32 points and 11 rebounds in the loss, already their second after bowing to BJ Johnson and Phoenix Super LPG last Saturday.
A former adversary of Barkley in the Indonesian league, Buffen was responsible for giving his team the 81-79 lead with 3:57 to spare after a personal 7-0 run, but it proved to be their last stand as he and the whole crew got blanked.
Buffen hardly received any support as well, with Jerom Lastimosa and Ian Sangalang the only others in double figures with 11 and 10, respectively.
The Hotshots are hoping to snap out of this winless spell against the Bolts as well next Friday, July 24, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, hoping for payback after losing in their Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series last May.
The Scores:
Blackwater 89 – Barkley 26, Ilagan 20, Panopio 12, Barefield 10, Austria 5, Tratter 4, Demusis 4, Una 4, Murrell 2, David 2, Cruz-Dumont 0.
Magnolia 81 – Buffen 32, Lastimosa 11, Sangalang 10, Lucero 8, Barroca 6, Jopia 6, Koon 2, Gomez de Liano 2, Dela Rosa 2, Alfaro 2, Lee 0, Andrada 0.
Quarterscores: 19-20, 44-38, 65-62, 89-81.
