ANTIPOLO - Sedrick Barefield went berserk in the final minutes as Blackwater claimed its first win in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup, beating Magnolia, 97-91, on Sunday at the Ynares Center.
Barefield made the most telling shots in a closely fought endgame to help Blackwater arrest a 12-game losing slump dating back to the Philippine Cup - and post their first win in three starts in the midseason conference.
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Robert Upshaw III also had an impressive debut, scoring 35 points including a four-point shot with 58.6 seconds that increased Blackwater's lead to 91-84. The new Bossing import also had 16 boards, six assists and three blocks while going 3-of-6 from beyond the four-point line.
But it was Barefield who started the pullaway, sending Magnolia to an alarming third straight defeat to open the conference.
Barefield had 16 of his 26 points in the final quarter including back-to-back threes to close a 10-0 blast that got the Bossing ahead, 84-76. He knocked down another triple with 1:59 to go to make it an 87-81 advantage.
“Those two taking over down the stretch, I think that's what you need from an import, he has to be reliable and be able to play at his highest and his best especially in the fourth,” said Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso.
“What we are missing is the local support especially down the stretch. And today, Sed took care of that,” Cariaso added.
Nuni Omot exploded with 17 of his 38 points in the third quarter where Magnolia ended it with a 72-67 lead but couldn't hold on to it.
Zavier Lucero had 15 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, but Jerom Lastimosa shot just 2-of-9 and scored five points to go along with five rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
The scores:
Blackwater 97 – Upshaw 35, Barefield 26, Murrell 9, Tratter 8, David 7, Escoto 4, Ilagan 4, Mendoza 2, Una 2, Jopia 0, Andrade 0.
Magnolia 91 – Omot 38, Lucero 15, Sangalang 12, Gomez de Liano 6, Lastimosa 5, Dela Rosa 5, Barroca 4, Laput 4, Koon 2, Andrada 0, Escoto 0, Lee 0.
Quarters: 20-24; 36-42; 67-72; 97-91.
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