Rookie Art dela Cruz made his PBA debut for the Blackwater Elite against the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday. PBA IMAGES
Carlo Lastimosa banked in the game winner as Blackwater salvaged a 92-90 shocker over Meralco in the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Lastimosa blew past his initial defender Rey Guevarra before knocking in a floater near the free throw line over Jared Dillinger with only 1.8 seconds left that lifted the Elite to their first win in the all-Filipino conference.
“Sarap ng feeling,” said Blackwater coach Leo Isaac. “We hope things will be on our favor going into our succeeding games. It’s good to see that our players stepped up like Reil Cervantes and Carlo Lastimosa.”
“From the release point, I had no doubt that Carlo’s shot will go in,” said a confident Isaac of the former College of St. Benilde star’s go-ahead basket.
Reil Cervantes gave Blackwater an 89-87 edge with 1:25 remaining before Jimmy Alapag setup Cliff Hodge for the game-tying triple, 90-all, with six seconds left.
It was a breakthrough victory for Blackwater, who lost its first 13 games in the Philippine Cup including a 0-11 campaign during its maiden season in the league last season. The Elite improved to 1-2 this season.
Gary David scored 23 points while Dillinger added 15 for the Bolts, who rallied from 18 down in the third quarter, fell to 0-2.
JP Erram led Blackwater in scoring with 14 points that went with five rebounds before fouling out with still 4:35 remaining. Cervantes, Mike Cortez, James Sena and Bam Gamalinda finished with 12 points apiece. Lastimosa wound up with 11.
The Scores:
BLACKWATER 92 – Erram 14, Cervantes 12, Cortez 12, Gamalinda 12, Sena 12, Lastimosa 11, Agovida 9, Canada 3, Reyes 3, Ballesteros 2, Dela Cruz 2, Vosotros 0.
MERALCO 90 – David 23, Dillinger 15, Hodge 13, Al-Hussaini 10, Alapag 7, Guevarra 7, Newsome 7, Hugnatan 4, Buenafe 2, Caram 2, Amer 0, Faundo 0, Nabong 0.
Quarters: 26-16, 48-33, 69-63, 92-90