Blackwater tabs No. 3, puts Alaska in peril
Blackwater rookie star Ray Parks. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—Blackwater clinched the No. 3 seed for the quarterfinals after adding to the woes of Alaska, 112-104, in Sunday’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup action at Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Rookie Ray Parks Jr. paced the Elite with a near triple-double of 25 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists to go with five other twin-digit performances, among them Roi Sumang and Mac Belo, who shot highly efficient clips in the affair.
Alaska turned to import Diamon Simpson, who also flirted with a triple-double with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists. Chris Banchero and Sonny Thoss fired 18 and 15, respectively as two more off the bench tossed in 11 or more for the Aces.
The win not only gives Blackwater a sure and comfortable spot into the next round but also a 7-4 record which ties their franchise-best win-loss card in the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
Alaska, which slipped to a 4-7 slate for the ninth place, could still salvage their playoff hopes when it figures in a you-or-me contest against Phoenix Fuel or Meralco this Friday also at the Big Dome.
The scores:
Blackwater 112 – Parks 25, Sumang 18, Maliksi 15, Blair 14, Belo 13, Al-Hussaini 12, Digregorio 6, Desiderio 4, Cortez 3, Sena 2, Alolino 0.
Alaska 104 – Simpson 24, Banchero 18, Thoss 15, Manuel 15, Teng 11, Enciso 9, Casio 6, Racal 4, Pascual 2, Exciminiano 0, Cruz 0.
Quarterscores: 27-32, 56-55, 80-78, 112-104.
