ROBERT Upshaw III thinks Blackwater has the tools to make it to the playoffs of the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup with him as an import and longtime friend and former teammate Sedrick Barefield as one of its vital cogs.
The beefy 7-footer made an immediate impact in his first game as a Bossing on Sunday when he had 35 points, 14 rebounds, six rebounds, and three blocks to help the minnow beat Magnolia, 97-91, for its first win in three games.
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Upshaw gives Blackwater the unique qualities of being a tall, bulky import who can just pound the ball and barrel his way inside the paint, but also has a soft touch from the outside.
“Yeah, definitely,” said Upshaw, when asked if he feels like Blackwater is capable of at least a run at a playoff spot this conference. “I think that just having me as a presence inside, it creates a lot of problems for a lot of teams. It allows the players on our team to play freely and not just all over the place.
“Coach is building up a great plan for us to follow, so if we can continue to follow that plan and we stay together, I definitely think we can make a run.”
The 32-year-old Upshaw recently played in China's National Basketball League, the country's second-tier league. He also had a stint in Taiwan where he got reacquainted with Barefield, a friend since middle school.
The two have reunited with Blackwater and played well in their first game together.
“We've been friends since I think middle school,” said Upshaw. “His dad was actually my coach, and we've just had a really good relationship. We played together in Taiwan so we've been really close for a very long time.”
The two conspired in leading the Bossing in the final stretch against the Hotshots, one of the traditional playoff contenders in the league, and Upshaw said the familiarity was helpful.
'Chemistry really good'
“I think that's a great thing. I think me and Sedrick's chemistry is really good, and I think that's going to be something that helps the team win these games because he (Barefield) is a really good player, I'm a really good player, and we're going to also allow other players on our team to play how they want to play,” said Upshaw.
Upshaw had everyone, including his coach, in awe when he shot 3-of-6 from fours including one with 58.6 seconds left to essentially seal the win against Magnolia.
“When we are looking at him and we were looking at clips as we were looking for a replacement, we saw everything except that,” said Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso, referring to Upshaw's outside shooting. “That four-point line, I know he was excited to hear that there's a four-point line. I know he is taking a couple in practice. Pinapabayaan ko lang siya, allowing him to shoot, and I was like, ‘Okay.’”
“I hope he doesn't fall in love with it. If he keeps shooting that way, we might allow him to shoot a little bit more,” said Cariaso.
Upshaw looks forward to shooting a couple more fours in their next games.
“I didn't know about it (four-point line) until I got here,” said Upshaw. “I'd never known about it, but it was just something that I wanted to take a challenge, and I think I did very well.”
“I got us the win and I'm pretty sure that's probably like the most four pointers a person has made in their first game, so kind of making the record books,” said Upshaw with a smile.
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