HENRY Walker slammed home the game-winning basket with 3.4 seconds as Blackwater ended its dry spell in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with an 86-84 win over Magnolia on Wednesday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
A perfectly executed play off an inbound freed up Walker for the basket that saved the Elite from a fourth-quarter meltdown and secured just the team's first win after a 0-7 start in the midseason conference.
Walker actually had a relatively off-night as he had 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals but came up with the biggest play of the game.
“At least the team is improving, little by little every game,” said Blackwater coach Bong Ramos. “I keep on telling them, just continue to pound the rack. Mabibiyak din ‘yan.”
Poy Erram had 19 points and 15 rebounds for the Elite, including the game-tying lay-up off a Walker pass with 27.2 seconds, while Allein Maliksi had 16 points and nine rebounds.
The Elite gave up 12 straight points to the Hotshots to trail by four points, 73-69. Blackwater was down by four points but tied the game on a lay-up by Mike DiGregorio and Erram tied the match at 84.
Rome Dela Rosa missed a jumper to set up the game-winner by the Blackwater import.
Mark Barroca had 16 points, while import Curtis Kelly had 12 points and nine rebounds for the slumping Hotshots, who dropped their second straight game to fall to an even 3-3 record.
The scores:
Blackwater 86 – Erram 19, Maliksi 16, DiGregorio 11, Walker 11, Sumang 8, Zamar 8, Pinto 6, Al-Hussaini 5, Belo 2, Banal 0, Sena 0, Palma 0, Javier 0, Jose 0.
Magnolia 84 – Barroca 16, Simon 12, Kelly 12, Reavis 11, Jalalon 8, Brondial 7, Melton 6, Dela Rosa 5, Lee 3, Herndon 2, Pascual 2, Ramos 0.
Quarters: 19-27; 40-48; 69-61; 86-84.
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