Blackwater still looking for chemistry ahead of new PBA season

MANILA, Philippines—Blackwater was a curious tale in the 2019-20 PBA season after the team seesawed from bottom-dweller to title contender and back to cellar-scrapper in the three conferences.

Head coach Nash Racela is tasked to lead the Elite to a better campaign in the new year and the former TNT tactician said he first has to start with the intangibles especially chemistry.

“Of course chemistry isn’t there yet, and obviously the more we play the better,” said Racela Saturday at Aero Center. “Things as simple as eye contact with one another and just knowing each other have to be improved.”

The Elite finished with a 2-9 record in both the Philippine and Governors’ Cups but had a strong 7-4 slate in the Commissioner’s Cup where they finished third but lost to Rain or Shine in the quarterfinals.

Coincidentally, the two conferences that Blackwater failed to make the playoffs were the ones where second overall pick Bobby Ray Parks was involved.

Parks didn’t play for the Elite in the Philippine Cup as he was still playing for Alab Pilipinas in the Asean Basketball League while the Governors’ Cup saw him play with stellar numbers of 20.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists but was eventually dealt to TNT for Tony Semerad, Don Trollano, and a 2021 first round pick.

Nevertheless, Blackwater has incoming rookie center Maurice Shaw to boost its chances in the coming season.

Shaw, 35, is a seasoned 6-foo-9 center after having played for six teams from 2005 until 2017 across Portugal, the United States, and Thailand.

The hulking big man even played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 2005 to 2006 and also worked out for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.

Racela, aware of his new player’s talents, said Shaw still has to learn of PBA’s style especially with the rough physicality the league has been known for since its inception nearly half a century ago.

“He’s at the stage that he’s still knowing about the players we’re about to play against, the kind of physicality the league has, the way the referees officiate, and he’s learning all of that,” said Racela.

“Of course we’ll try our best to help him and fast track the process.”