CHICAGO - Back-to-back wins.
Those are words that don't usually get attached to Blackwater. If anything, the Bossing are always in bed with "losing streaks."
But after stunning Ginebra, 95-88, last Saturday, the perennial cellar-dweller has scored a rare double by outlasting Phoenix, 124-111, at the Araneta Coliseum.
Import George King ain't a fluke nor a one-hit wonder.
READ Dynamic duo King, Barefield lead Blackwater past Phoenix
After pasting Ginebra with 33 points, 19 rebounds and 4 assists, the former Phoenix Sun abused the Phoenix Fuel Masters for 44 points, 13 rebounds and 4 dimes.
King's two-game total is now 77 points, 32 rebounds and 8 assists. He has made 24 of 47 field goals (51 percent), 4-of-10 from 4 (40 percent), 4-of-9 from 3 (44 percent) and 17 of 20 from the free throw stripe (85 percent).
While inflicting typhoon-type damage across two arenas, King has cleaned up the mess left behind by the more-heralded former Dallas Maverick Ricky Ledo who left behind a two-games mess worth only 18 points with 32 missed shots out of 38 attempts.
KING IS A GAME-CHANGER.
Just like that, the Bossing are 2-3 and suddenly "in contention," another set of words we usually don't associate with them.
Like I said in a previous column, King's explosion isn't a surprise given that he was actually drafted by an NBA team and has played at pro basketball's highest level.
What's most impressive is how quickly he has adjusted to his teammates, the style of play in the PBA and other nuances that most imports face, Navigating all that is like figuring out the Rubik's cube under time pressure.
After arriving in Manila last Wednesday, King quickly endeared himself to his teammates with professionalism and a selfless personality.
"(He is) very good at nice din," Blackwater veteran Jvee Casio told me Tuesday night.
King doesn't walk around waving his NBA credentials or telling guys he's the best thing that happened to civilization since free Wifi.
The dude just wants to ball. And as a result, Blackwater is rolling.
WHO'S THE BOSS?
Here's the thing, though, the Bossing are far from a one-man wrecking crew.
Sedrick Barefeld had his best game since he was drafted at No. 2 overall last July with 32 points on 11-of-20 shooting including 4-of-11 from 3-point distance.
Troy Rosario, who becomes a free agent at the end of the Bossings' conference, continued his solid play, this time with 12 points and 9 rebounds.
So yeah, things are looking up for Blackwater which can shoot for a .500 record when it plays NLEX this Friday.
I'm not familiar with the nocturnal habits of coach Jeff Cariaso but I think he's been sleeping well lately.
Good for him. It's about time.
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