MONTALBAN – Blackwater scored the first major upset of the PBA Season 50 Governors Cup behind a 131-108 thrashing of Rain or Shine Saturday night at the Ynares Center.
Kentrell Barkley had a rousing league debut with a triple double of 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Bossing, who led the Elasto Painters by as many as 34 points in the third quarter.
The lopsided win likewise avenged Blackwater’s 95-151 blowout to Rain or Shine during the Commissioner’s Cup in one of the most lopsided losses in PBA history.
READ: Yeng wary of 'dangerous' Blackwater in tough Group B
Coach Pat Aquino admitted the 56-point beating was partly a motivation on the part of the Bossing to get even against the Elasto Painters, who reached the semifinals of the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup.
“I know naman that it’s at the back of our minds,” he said. “I know we had to prepare well with what coach Yeng (Guiao) is doing with Rain or Shine. We want to imitate what they’re doing also – try to be aggressive from start to finish and I think we did that part. We played aggressive and we played together as a team.
“But I think that’s in the past already.”
And the present had Barkley getting a lot of local support from Sedrick Barefield with 24 points, the returning RK Ilagan had 22 and rookies Dalph Panopio and James Una with 19 and 12, respectively.
Barkley became the first player to finish with a triple double in his PBA debut since Converge rookie Juan Gomez De Liano did the trick in the season-openng Philippine Cup.
The Elasto Painters fell to an early 23-8 deficit as Barkley poured 18 of Blackwater’s 35 first quarter points.
They never recovered from the slow start despite a 38-point and 15-rebound production from resident import Aaron Fuller.
Adrian Nocum and Giam Mamuyac finished with 17 and 12 points as they ended up as the only two locals to submit double figures for Rain or Shine, which suffered its worst loss since a 114-90 setback against Barangay Ginebra last May 3 during the Commissioner’s Cup.
Injuries likewise continued to hobble the Elasto Painters as big man Leonard Santillan is out with a fractured hand, joining Felix Lemetti, Stanley Pringle, Keith Datu, and rookie Jun Roque.
The scores
Blackwater 131 -- Barkley 29, Barefield 24, Ilagan 22, Panopio 19, Una 12, Tratter 11, Demusis 8, Austria 4, Mallilin 2, Dumont 0, David 0, DiGregorio 0, Escoto 0.
Rain or Shine 108 -- Fuller 38, Nocum 17, Mamuyac 12, Villegas 9, Clarito 8, Manaytay 6, Malonzo 6, Tiongson 5, Cuajao 5, David 2, Asistio 0, Caracut 0.
Quarters: 36-25; 72-56; 108-81; 131-108.
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