Roi Sumang steps up for Blackwater. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Roi Sumang came through in the clutch to help Blackwater turn back red-hot Magnolia in overtime, 104-99, arresting a two-game skid and clinching a place in PBA Commissioner’s Cup playoffs Friday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Sumang unloaded nine of his total 19 points to help push the Elite to a 6-3 record and a return to the quarterfinals.
“Siguro nag-bago [lahat dahil sa] import namin, sobrang nakatulong siya. Heto talaga ‘yung hinahanap namin. Kulang kami sa firepower,” Sumang said of the Blackwater’s return to the win column via a televised interview.
Elite’s new import, Staphon Blair, debuted with a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds to go with the double-digit production of starters Mike DiGregorio and rookie Ray Parks.
“It’s really tough to change imports right in the middle of the conference. But we just had that commitment to [winning] and helping each other out,” said coach Aris Dimaunahan.
“We shared the ball and took care of it pretty well tonight. It all boiled down to that—like how we played in the first six games,” he added.
The Hotshots turned to Paul Lee, who scored 25 off the bench, and James Farr, who tossed in 23 more, in the losing stand that saw a five-game winning streak go down the drain.
Sumang’s 10 other points came in the final quarter, where both teams jockeyed for the lead.
Blackwater faces a gargantuan task in extending its winning ways when it goes up against pace-setting TNT in on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Magnolia, meanwhile, tangles with crowd darling and reigning conference champion Barangay Ginebra in the curtain-raiser in a bid to regain its lethal form.