Jvee Casio believes that better things are coming for Blackwater as the ball club finally ended more than a season of futility on Wednesday night.
The Bossing hacked out a stunning 101-100 victory over top seed Magnolia in their final game of the 2022 PBA Governors’ Cup, putting an end to their 29-game losing skid — the longest winless stretch ever in league history.
“It’s a great start for the team,” offered the veteran floor general moments after the emotional victory at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Casio arrived at Blackwater via trade from Alaska last October, one of the changes that the team pulled off in an aim to turn its fortunes around after losing 19 straight games, dating back to the 2020 Philippine Cup.
Save for that ankle injury he suffered early in the conference, the 35-year-old did show the leadership head coach Ariel Vanguardia knew he’d bring.
Along with that came the impressive on-court showings, including that vintage outing against Ginebra last February 25 that saw him finish with 27 points as he led his side’s furious rally after being down by 31 points.
The wins, though, just couldn’t come by. Still, the Gilas Pilipinas pioneer kept the faith that they would, one day, see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Photo by PBA Images
“Si JVee, maganda ‘yung sinabi niya kahapon sa viewing namin about character,” said Vanguardia, who’s known Casio ever since their PBL days.
“Kumbaga itong last game will define our character, ilaban lang natin.”
They did just that against the Hotshots. Even after coughing up an 11-point lead, the Bossing were able to remain composed in the endgame.
And Casio himself was one of those who showed as much. He picked up the ball lost by Mark Barroca as he fell to the full-court trap, and dished it right away to Barkley Ebona for the tough go-ahead basket with 10.5 seconds left.
Rey Suerte then blocked Jackson Corpuz’s lay-up as time expired afterward. Celebration then ensued over at Blackwater when the final buzzer sounded.
“There were games na we’re there, ‘yun lang talaga, we cannot sustain ‘yung runs at mabilis nawawalan ng loob,” said Vanguardia.
“Yun, monkey off our backs, come next season, next conference, kumbaga mas ready na.”
Casio finished with 12 points on three triples. And he couldn’t be any prouder with the resolve the entire crew displayed to register the win, which he said is dedicated to team owner Dioceldo Sy and those who stuck by them.
Photo by PBA Images
“Everyone really wanted to win — from the management, players, coaches, utilities. It was a hard season. It was really, really hard. But this win, kahit sabihin nating last [game], matutuwa siyempre the franchise and the fans,” he expressed.
“I’m just proud of the guys, they never stopped,” said the one-time PBA champion.
“We have to give this, of course, to our owner, and to the fans.”
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