PBA: Blackwater loses Nambatac but still beats TNT for 2-0 start

Blackwater forward Troy Rosario during a game against TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup.–PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Blackwater shrugged off the early absence of Rey Nambatac to stun TNT, 87-76, for a rare 2-0 start in the PBA Philippine Cup on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Troy Rosario put up 20 points while coach Jeffrey Cariaso also got plenty of contributions as the Bossing frustrated the Tropang Giga en route to getting the early lead in the season-ending conference.

RK Ilagan, rookies Christian David and James Kwekuteye and Bradwyn Guinto all delivered for Blackwater, which won back-to-back games in a conference for the first time since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup.

SCHEDULE: PBA Philippine Cup 2024

That conference saw Blackwater win its first three games to eventually make the quarterfinals.

“It was really a team effort, especially playing against the big teams,” said Cariaso.

Ilagan had 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, David added 13 points while Guinto and Kwekuteye added nine apiece.

The Bossing won despite losing Nambatac five minutes into the contest when he sprained his ankle after stepping on the Tropang Giga’s Barkley Ebona.

Nambatac was coming off a 27-point debut for the Bossing against the Meralco Bolts, and Cariaso hopes that the injury is not as severe as the team fears as they next play the Converge FiberXers on Wednesday.

Calvin Oftana dropped 21 points, but TNT dropped to 1-1 as it couldn’t get back at Blackwater and trailed by 20 in the second half.

The scores:

BLACKWATER 87—Rosario 20, Ilagan 15, David 13, Kwekuteye 9, Guinto 9, Yap 6, Escoto 5, Sena 4, Suerte 3, Hill 2, Tungcab 1, Nambatac 0, Jopia 0.

TNT 76—Oftana 21, Castro 12, Khobuntin 8, Galinato 8, Ganuelas-Rosser B. 8, Williams 3, Ebona 2, Montalbo 2, Ganuelas-Rosser M. 2 , Aurin 2, Reyes 0, Ponferrada 0.

Quarters: 16-17, 39-35, 69-59, 87-76.