BLACKWATER showed up with guns blazing and stunned a surprisingly out-of-sync Converge five last night.
With import Chris Ortiz getting ample help from the locals, the Bossing mauled the FiberXers 103-84 for a fiery start in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
The 6-foot-8 Ortiz notched a game-high 21 points, to go with 11 rebounds and six assists, while veteran skipper JVee Casio chipped in 15 markers and four dimes.
Mike Ayonayon also had 13 points and six boards, while Rey Suerte added 12 and six for the Bossing.
Blackwater, which gave new coach Jeff Cariaso an emphatic win in his debut, also drew 11 and 10 points from Troy Rosario and Tyrus Hill, respectively.
The Bossing’s runaway triumph in their opening match should serve them in good stead after they finished dead last with a 1-10 slate in the last Governors’ Cup, according to Cariaso.
“It’s one of the things that despite it being Converge or anyone else, I think it’s the first game that you wanted to get under your belt a little bit because it’s the first game. It was such a long layoff. We felt like we were practicing the whole conference, iyon ang feeling,” Cariaso said. “Despite who our opponent was in our first game, it’s very important that we come out on a positive note, and I think the guys did that tonight. We’re very happy with it.
“We know the state of our team. We know that the current line-up is pretty much the same with last year. So, they were part of that grueling year last season. The mindset is crucial how you wanna change that. Iyon ang focus namin the last three, four months, helping improve the culture so you can improve the mindset,” added Caraiso, who called the shots for Converge in last season’s Philippine Cup after it bought the defunct Alaska franchise lock, stock, and barrel.
Working behind Ortiz, Casio, Suerte, and Hill, Blackwater zoomed to a 50-40 lead at the halfway mark.