Sedrick Barefield hit the killer four as Blackwater stunned Ginebra, 95-88, to break through in the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup, Friday night.
The second pick of the recent draft struck the dagger from 27 feet out with 31.2 seconds left to play, and then hit the ‘Night, Night’ as they completed the big upset — and left the pro-Kings faithful at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium shocked.
Barefield finished with 13 points to help the Bossing earn not just their first win of the conference, but their first win against the Barangay in five years or since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup with a team led by Ray Parks.
#WATCH: JB misses… and Sedrick Barefield shuts it down with a cold-blooded four-pointer and a night-night to boot 🔥🏀#PBA2024
📹 @JustineBacnis /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/6bVp1UDZEb
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) August 30, 2024
“We knew he had that in him,” said coach Jeff Cariaso of his prized guard’s dagger. “That’s one of the reasons why we’re blessed to acquire Sed.”
The win wouldn’t also be possible had it not been for the exploits of new import George King, who joined Blackwater a day before the Ginebra game.
Brought in after Cameron Clark backed out due to family problems, the former NBA pro delivered 33 points on two four-pointers and 19 rebounds.
King produced 14 of his points in the third quarter alone as he led his side to a 31-20 outscoring of the opposition to head into the final chapter with a 77-64 lead before having to repel a late-game comeback attempt.
“I didn’t know it’s been five years since we’ve beaten this team. To be a part of that, it just feels really good, especially at this point in my career. I’m really happy to be here. I wish I was here years ago,” said the 30-year-old.
Christian David supplied 11 points on three treys while Troy Rosario added 10 markers as Blackwater improved to 1-3 in Group B.
“It’s really huge. I think more than just history and the slump that we’ve been on for the last five years, it’s all about staying in the conference. That’s still our goal,” said Cariaso, visibly relieved as the monkey is off their backs.
Carrying the fight for Ginebra, on the other hand, was Justin Brownlee with 37 points, albeit on 34 shots, six rebounds, and five assists.
The three-time Best Import tried to will his side back in the last three minutes of the game and his team eventually got to within just three, 91-88, with 1:01 to go behind also the efforts of Stephen Holt and Maverick Ahanmisi.
JB tried to cut the gap further but missed, and Barefield made them regret that afterwards when he took advantage of the space — carved hugely by Rosario’s pick that drew the defense of Ahanmisi and Cu on him — to fire the four.
Japeth Aguilar had 17 points while RJ Abarrientos added 10 markers for the Barangay, which dropped its second game in three games.
The Scores:
Blackwater 95 – King 33, Barefield 13, David 11, Rosario 10, Guinto 9, Kwekuteye 8, Ilagan 5, Chua 4, Escoto 2, Casio 0, Mitchell 0, Ponferrada 0.
Ginebra 88 – Brownlee 37, Aguilar 17, Abarrientos 10, Ahanmisi 9, Holt 5, Thompson 4, Go 4, Adamos 2, Cu 0, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 20-21, 46-44, 77-64, 95-88.
