Blackwater overcame skidding Converge, 102-97, to return to the win column of the PBA On Tour, Wednesday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Justin Arana and Jerrick Balanza tried to will the Fiberxers back in the game with a 6-2 blitz with 3:46 left to inch within five, 86-91.
However, JR Sena, Rashawn McCarthy, and Baser Amer connived for a 7-1 answer to establish an 11-point Bossing lead with 2:21 remaining, 98-87.
“We didn’t do anything special, we just tightened our defense, we just did what we needed to improve on. Good bounce back win for the team,” said Blackwater assistant coach Joe Silva.
The Bossing bounced back from a 112-95 defeat to Northport last Friday to rise above .500 at 3-2 while sending Converge to their third straight loss to at 1-3.
McCarthy erupted for 30 points on 5-of-7 shooting from deep to go with five rebounds, while Rey Suerte and Amer added 12 points apiece.
Big men Sena and Yousef Taha also made their presence felt with nine points apiece.
Arana’s monster outing of 32 points, 17 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks went to waste,
Alec Stockton also had 15 points and five assists in the losing cause while Balanza chimed in 14 points and six rebounds.
Fiberxers assistant coach McJour Luib also made an appearance, playing for eight minutes with numbers of three points and three assists while being a plus-two when he was on the floor.
Blackwater will resume play next Wednesday against Ginebra, while Converge will look to end its slump on Sunday when it takes on San Miguel.
The Scores:
Blackwater 102 – McCarthy 30, Lucky 12, Amer 12, Taha 9, Sena 9, DiGregorio 8, Ilagan 7, Snake 6, Banal 6, Hill 3, Escoto 0, Ayonayon 0
Converge 97 – Arana 32, Stockton 15, Libra 14, Racal 9, Ambohot 8, Nieto 7, Zaldivar 6, Luib 3, Ebona 3, Mendoza 0
Quarterscores: 21-19, 44-47, 74-72, 102-97
