BLACKWATER coach Pat Aquino is happy to see team right in the mix for a playoff spot in the PBA 50th Season Governors’ Cup.
The Bossing entered the long break with an even 3-3 win-loss record and in fourth spot in a tough Group B where traditional playoff contenders Meralco (3-5) and Barangay Ginebra (2-4) are below them.
Though those teams are breathing down their necks, Aquino believes that a team long-maligned as a perennial league doormat is capable of achieving great things in the final conference of their 12th season in the PBA.
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“I think it’s good, for now,” Aquino told SPIN.ph. “But still, a long way to go. We still have four more games. But I like ‘yung posisyon namin kasi nasa aming kamay, hindi sa ibang tao, hindi sa ibang team na way of trying to get to the playoffs.
“It’s still nasa kamay namin kung paano namin lalaruin. We are optimistic about it. We are very excited. We are eager to play well and get to the quarterfinals,” Aquino said.
Aquino took over as Blackwater coach last April. He was tapped to replace Jeff Cariaso by a management that's hungry to make it to the playoffs - a feat they last did in the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup.
Aquino feels he has the pieces led by import Kentrell Barkley, Sedrick Barefield, and RK Ilagan to achieve that goal.
“Ang sabi ko lang sa kanila is I will give you the much-needed [playing] time for you to show how you play and to be very successful in this league,” said Aquino, who has a 4-9 win-loss record with Blackwater since he took over.
“Every game, talagang todo tayo. We cannot simply just roll over and let them win. For the past how many years already, ganun na ‘yung nangyayari sa atin, and management expects something better and something different.
“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa management na nabigyan ako ng opportunity na ito, especially Boss Dioceldo (Sy). The reaction of the boys nung pagpasok ko, medyo maganda. Gusto lang namin mapagpatuloy sana, and sana, makuha namin (playoffs).
"Sabi nga namin, ‘yung Blackwater can compete with the other teams, not just as perennial cellar-dweller lagi. And for a fact na meron pala kaming kayang i-prove, we try to do better,” Aquino said.
While optimistic, Aquino is also cautious with where they are, knowing that Meralco and Ginebra are capable of piling up victories and get to the playoffs.
Aquino said the challenge right now is sustaining their form once they return for the second half of the conference after a seven-week Gilas Pilipinas break.
“Again, mahirap. Sabi nga nila sa Ginebra, never say die. Meralco, champion-caliber team also… Sabi ko, play our game. Again, nasa kamay namin kung paano maglalaro sa mga susunod na mga laro. We do our best all the time and we hope na mapagpatuloy namin."
Once the Governors’ Cup resumes, Blackwater will try to make the quarterfinals as the only Group B team which had a below-.500 winning percentage from the previous conference.
The Bossing face Magnolia on October 9, Meralco on October 13, and Rain or Shine on October 17. The Bossing are also scheduled to face Ginebra in a game that is still up for rescheduling after being shelved during the habagat.
“I think we just have to really work hard. ‘Yun naman ang pinag-uusapan namin always sa mga boys. We have to work harder para ma-achieve natin ‘yung mga goals natin,” Aquino said.
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