MACAU leaned on the trio of Jenning Leung, Damian Chongqui, and Ramon Cao to beat Blackwater, 123-119, for only its second win in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Leung and Chongqui had 30 points apiece, while Cao had 29 points as the Black Knights fended off an import-less Bossing to tie their victim at 2-8 (win-loss), still the two worst records in the eliminations.
READ Why Blackwater import Upshaw is in street clothes vs Macau
Blackwater played without Robert Upshaw III due to a calf injury. He was in street clothes during the first half, but later suited up in the second half.
Macau led by as many as 13 points early in the game, but still had to deal with several comeback bids by Blackwater, including in the final minutes where BJ Andrade was able to slice the gap to one, 120-119.
But Macau was able to hold on behind Leung's two free throws with 19 seconds left.
“We pretty much got five or six guys that are always going to be in double figures. Damian had a big night, Jenning had a big night with Ray (Cao). I'm really happy for Ray and Jenning because they didn't really play to their caliber that they wanted to the last game against TNT,” said Macau coach Marcus Elliott.
With Upshaw out, Paul Zamar and Christian David led Blackwater in scoring with 21 points apiece for the Bossing.
The scores:
Macau 123 – Leung 30, Chongqui 30, Cao 29, Mitchell 11, Shackelford 11, Lao 6, Chen 5, Chao 1, Zhu 0.
Blackwater 119 - David 21, Zamar 21, Barefield 18, Austria 14, Murrell 14, Andrade 12, Guinto 8, Mallillin 7, Tratter 2, Una 2, Altamirano 0, Escoto 0.
Quarters: 25-21; 53-49; 91-88; 123-119.
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