George King steered Blackwater to its third straight win in the PBA Governors’ Cup by getting back at NLEX, 110-99, Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The American winger finished with 39 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists as he helped the Bossing repel the Road Warriors’ fourth-quarter rally on their way to forging a tie at no. 3 in Group B with the very same team they just beat.
King struck the dagger through a step-back four-pointer against Baser Amer with 2:54 left to play, re-establishing their lead to double digits, 104-92, after the opposition got to as close as seven from a deficit as big as 20.
“It’s pretty much obvious on the court the impact that George King has given us in the last three games,” said head coach Jeff Cariaso.
Five other players finished in double digits in the vengeful victory after losing by way of a 104-87 rout in their previous meeting last August 22.
Troy Rosario came through with a double-double of his own with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Sedrick Barefield supplied 14 points, while RK Ilagan made 13.
Justin Chua had 11 points and six rebounds as all five starters scored in twin figures. Christian David chipped in 10 markers, spiked by two triples.
(C) PBA Images
“‘Pag kasama namin si George King sa loob, mas madali ‘yung basketball sa amin,” said Rosario. “Ira-run lang namin yung plays namin, ‘pag walang napuntahan yung options na ni-run namin, may babagsakan kami ng bola.”
Blackwater will try to make it four in a row against the same team it beat for win no. 1, Ginebra, on Tuesday, September 10, in the same venue.
Myke Henry, on the other hand, led NLEX with 26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and three steals in their second loss in a row since stunning San Miguel Beer in an overtime affair last Saturday in Cagayan de Oro.
Robert Bolick had a line of 21-9-9, as he flirted with a triple-double again like what he did in their first meeting albeit with a different result this time.
Robbie Herndon was the only other double-digit scorer for the Road Warriors with 18.
The team couldn’t pick itself up from the humiliating 119-91 blowout at the hands of the Kings just last Tuesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
NLEX will meet the Beermen again on Wednesday, September 11, still at Ninoy with the hope, of course, to arrest its losing skid.
The Scores:
Blackwater 110 – King 39, Rosario 15, Barefield 14, Ilagan 13, Chua 11, David 10, Kwekuteye 4, Mitchell 2, Escoto 2, Hill 0, Ponferrada 0.
NLEX 99 – Henry 26, Bolick 21, Herndon 18, Valdez 8, Policarpio 7, Amer 6, Nermal 4, Miranda 3, Marcelo 2, Fajardo 2, Anthony 2.
Quarterscores: 28-21, 61-44, 84-73, 110-99.
