Blackwater wins third game in row, beats Dyip
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Blackwater Elite stayed undefeated in the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup, winning their third game in a row by topping the Columbian Dyip, 118-110, on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Getting solid contributions anew from a lot of sources, the Elite were able to withstand a serious challenge from the Dyip all game long to stay on top of the standings of the midseason PBA tournament with a 3-0 card.
The two teams had a brief feeling-out period before Mac Belo and Blackwater started to pick things up and created some separation, 15-10, with five minutes to go in the opening quarter.
But CJ Perez kept the Dyip in the game, even helping his team to seize the lead, 18-17, at the 3:24 mark.
The Elite though were not to be denied command the rest of the way, outscoring Columbian, 11-8, to go on top, 28-26, at the end of the opening frame.
It was a fire fight to begin the second quarter with the Dyip going on a 15-6 run to build a 41-34 advantage with just five minutes lapsing.
Allein Maliksi then pulled the Elite to with a point, 41-40, with 5:32 to go off back-to-back triples.
It was a momentum Blackwater would ride, with rookie Ray Parks Jr. also humming, to stay ahead, 57-54, at the break.
The two teams continued to battle to begin the third canto, fighting to a 71-all count with 5:25 remaining.
A strong finish, however, would see the Elite go up by double-digits, 89-79, heading into the final frame.
Columbian came out of the fourth quarter with more acceleration on lead of Mr. Perez.
It came to within two points, 94-92, with eight minutes to go.
But Mr. Maliksi and import Alex Stepheson conspired for the next five points to give the Elite more breathing room after.
The score was at 101-96 and Blackwater on top at the midway point.
Columbian towed itself to within a point, 106-105, after a triple from import Kyle Barone with 3:40 left in the game.
The Elite then answered with five straight points from Mr. Stepheson to put themselves ahead, 111-105, at the 1:37 mark.
Two free throws from Mr. Parks with 1:08 left made it an eight-point hole, 113-105, for Columbian, from which it could not recover from on its way to a third straight defeat.
Mr. Stepheson paced the Elite with 26 points and 21 boards with Mr. Parks adding 23 markers of his own.
Messrs. Maliksi and Belo each had 19 points for Blackwater.
Mr. Barone led Columbian with 21 points and 14 rebounds.
Mr. Perez, meanwhile, added 17 points.
“Congratulations to the players. We really wanted to get this win and dictate the tempo right from the get-go. We’re happy with what we have done in the last two weeks, winning three games in a row,” said Blackwater coach Aris Dimaunahan in the postgame press conference.
