Blackwater Bossing’s George King in action against TerraFirma Dyip in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The Blackwater Bossing avoided being the first team that TerraFirma Dyip would have beaten in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.

The Jeffrey Cariaso-coached team claimed its second win of the conference after it triumphed over Terrafirma, in the battle of also-ran squads on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.

George King ruled with 26 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while providing him help were Justin Chua, Mike Ayonayon, and Jaydee Tungcab who scored 17, 15, and 11, respectively.

“We were better [than expected],” said Cariaso of his squad which snapped a four-game losing skid during the postgame presser. “The only thing I told them was: ‘If we get stops, we'll get opportunities.”

“The fact that we lost four in a row was a motivation regardless of who we were pacing tonight. Tonight, they stepped up and they were ready,” added the former Alaska Milk superstar, sharing what their mindset was ahead of the contest despite going up against a winless team.

Only a four-point, 71-67 game after the first 36 minutes of action, Blackwater slowly pulled away in the final canto through a 14-to-four run which came from makes Richard Escoto, Rey Suerte, Kib Montalbo, and Justin Chua, for an 84-to-71 lead at the 8:20 mark.  

The Dyip rallied back and were able to get to as close as six, 89-83, following a Stanley Pringle three-pointer and Brandon Edwards going 1-of-2 from the foul line with still 2:58 on the game clock, but the Blackwater refused to become TerraFirma’s first and only victim so far.

Mike Ayonayon answered with a personal five-to-nothing spurt which was built from a three-pointer and a deuce at the 2:28 mark, and that was all the Bossing needed to improve to 2-7 in the team standings.

On the other hand, TerraFirma, which was paced by Brandon Edward’s 29 points and 15 rebounds, remained winless in nine appearances in the conference.

Also standing out were former Letran Knights gunners Louie Sangalang and Brent Paraiso who put up a 17-point, seven-rebound game, and a 12-point, eight-rebound performance, respectively, while Pringle and Mark Nonoy each finished with nine.

The Scores:

Blackwater 96 – King 26, Chua 17, Ayonayon 15, Tungcab 11, David 8, Suerte 7, Escoto 4, Casio 2, Ponferrada 2, Jopia 2, Montalbo 2, Guinto 0.

TerraFirma 86 – Edwards 29, Sangalang 17, Paraiso 12, Pringle 9, Nonoy 9, Ferrer 7, Carino 2, Romeo 1, Hernandez 0, Manuel 0, Ramos 0, Catapusan 0.

Quarterscores:  34-30, 45-49, 71-67, 96-86.