Blackwater import George King in the PBA Governors’ Cup.–PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Blackwater rolled past NLEX on Friday night with a 110-99 victory to extend its winning ways in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
With import George King playing yet another stellar game, the Bossing also drew brilliant performances from its locals, especially four-time PBA All-Star Troy Rosario, to improve to 3-3 in Group B play.
“It’s obvious on the court the impact that George has given us in the last three games. He’s really a fighter, a guy who doesn’t get rattled and a true professional,” Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso said shortly after the curtain raiser at Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.
“But aside from that, what he brings as value is really his leadership, his composure, and the way he just inserts himself and wants to be part of this team and I think that has (rubbed off) on the players and everyone is just feeling good since he’s been aboard.”
King finished with 39 points and 15 rebounds, while Rosario 15 and 14, the bulk of his total scoring output coming in the third period where Blackwater manufactured a sizable cushion that it enjoyed the rest of the way.
READ: PBA: Blackwater posts back-to-back wins, beats winless Phoenix
Rookie Sedrick Barefield had added 14 points, while RK Ilagan, now-healthy Justin Chua and Christian David all chipped in double-digit scores in the victory.
Import Myke Henry led the way for NLEx with 26 points and 12 rebounds, while Robert Bolick pumped in 21 points while Robbie Herndon 18 for the Road Warriors who suffered a second-straight loss, sliding into third place to have the same win-loss mark as the Bossing.
Blackwater faces yet another character test when it plays Barangay Ginebra on Sept. 11. NLEX, meanwhile, takes on San Miguel in a clash set on the same playdate.
The Scores:
BLACKWATER 110 – King 39, Rosario 15, Barefield 14, Ilagan 13, Chua 11, David 10, Kwekuteye 4, Mitchell 2, Escoto 2, Hill 0, Ponferrada 0
NLEX 99 – Henry 26, Bolick 21, Herndon 18, Valdez 8, Policarpio 7, Amer 6, Nermal 4, Miranda 3, Marcelo 2, Fajardo 2, Anthony 2
We’re fortunate to have won the last three games but we feel our backs are on the wall and we still need to keep pushing.
Quarterscores: 28-21, 61-44, 84-73, 110-99.