Sedrick Barefield earned praise from no less than Pat Aquino after starring in Blackwater’s skid-ending win over Phoenix Super LPG on Wednesday,
The star guard finished with 26 points, three rebounds, and three assists as he powered the Bossing’s fourth-quarter reversal to wipe out a nine-point deficit after three, leaving his head coach in awe of the assertiveness he showed.
“I love what Sed has been doing,” he said after their 106-100 victory at the SMART Araneta Coliseum that put them back on track after losing their last three outings.
“He is becoming the leader of the team. He took over.”
Barefield scored 11 in the period, almost single-handedly outscoring the Fuel Masters in the final 12 minutes as their improved play on both ends allowed the crew to finish the game in such a convincing fashion, 29-14.
The 29-year-old actually scored the fourth’s first basket, and that got him going, leading an 11-0 run with Troy Mallilin to give Blackwater the 88-86 lead.
(C) PBA Images
And when the opposition snatched the lead back, he was involved in putting together another 11-0 rally for the 103-93 lead with under a minute left to play, which proved to be enough to take the wind out of Phoenix’s sails.
Soon, they’d be able to not only snap out of their funk but to get revenge at the very same team that beat them the last time out by way of a 102-93 decision.
Barefield himself was bounce-back personified with the way he produced after a lowly 10-point showing on a poor 5-of-19 clip from the field in that loss.
“I feel like I had some of my best games against Phoenix, so not having a great game against them last time kinda put a bad taste in my mouth,” he said.
But the former NBA G League campaigner was prouder not necessarily with how he responded personally, but the Bossing themselves as a whole.
“Honestly, just as a team, that was the vibe. We knew we were better than how we performed in the last game, and I kinda just wanted to be more aggressive and not settle as much and I think we did a better job on that today.”
Barefield also liked the stand they had as a whole, especially on defense, as it predicated the comeback they pulled off against the erstwhile Group B leaders.
“We know what kind of team we are when we’re getting stops, taking pride in our defense,” he offered. “And then, just executing offensively.
“Our coaches put a great game plan together, and we executed, and when we did what they wanted us to do, what they’ve been preaching to us, things went well for us. I think that contributed to the comeback.”
