PBA: Blackwater routs Converge for promising 3-0 start

Blackwater rookie Christian David in the PBA Philippine Cup. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Blackwater played with sustained intensity on Wednesday to trample Converge, 90-78, and annex a third-straight victory to open the 2024 Philippine Cup.

The Bossing had five players scoring in twin figures in the triumph at Smart Araneta Coliseum, allowing the perennial cellar-dwelling club to take early leadership of the All-Filipino showcase with a 3-0 record on no less team owner Dioceldo Sy’s 67th birthday.

Rookie Christian David delivered 16, while Rey Suerte 14 points built on 4-for-7 shooting from deep to give the franchise its first promising start since the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup, when Aris Dimaunahan was still calling the shots.

Richard Escoto and RK Ilagan had 12 points each while Troy Rosario had 10 as the Bossing now turn their sights on NLEX, whom they battle next week.

Alec Stockton led the way for the FiberXers with 24 points, while Schonny Winston had 22 more in the loss that dealt the telco squad its second straight this tournament and extended its dry spell to seven straight games all the way from the last Commissioner’s Cup where they won only once.