MANILA, Philippines – In the PBA Governors’ Cup, Blackwater maintained its hopes of making it to the quarterfinals by defeating all-Filipino San Miguel Beer 111-94 on Saturday night at Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

For the Blackwater Bossing, George King put on a spectacular display. He filled in for Jordan Adams, the reinforcement from San Miguel Beer (SMB), when Adams suffered a hamstring injury. Blackwater secured a crucial victory as King, who scored an astounding 49 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, filled the vacuum left by Adams. His outstanding play helped the Bossing to a 4-5 record, which tied them with NLEX for fourth place in Group B. King’s offensive brilliance was evident as he demonstrated his variety and shooting range by making four baskets from the four-point arc and two more beyond the three-point line.

The Bossing and the NLEX Road Warriors are in a close race for the last playoff spot in Group B with just two playdates left in group play. The result of this race will determine which team advances to the next round, which puts pressure on both teams going into their remaining games. As Blackwater fights for a postseason place, holding onto their present momentum will be essential.

But getting to the postseason isn’t as simple as keeping up their present performance. If Jeff Cariaso’s team wants to guarantee a berth, they have to overcome certain obstacles. First and foremost, the Bossing must make sure that their offense stays effective and creative while building on King’s excellent performance. Secondly, in order to restrict second-chance points and manage the game’s pace, the team needs to strengthen its defensive and rebounding efforts, especially while facing formidable opponents. To maintain their chances of making the playoffs, the Bossing will need to play more cohesively as a team, capitalize on King’s offensive production, and execute consistently as the competition heats up.

Initially, NLEX has to lose its final elimination match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday against quarterfinalist Ginebra (6-3) in order to remain at four victories. The Bossing will then play Rain or Shine (7-2) at Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Monday in an attempt to win their fifth straight game.

After his team’s significant win, which snapped a four-game losing record against San Miguel Beer dating back to the 2023 Governors’ Cup, Cariaso acknowledged his happiness. He stated that the team’s primary goal was to maintain their chances of making the playoffs, and with this crucial victory, they were able to accomplish so. In addition to being a morale boost, the win marked a significant turning point in the team’s struggle to stay in the running.

Looking ahead, Cariaso stressed the value of maintaining concentration and rigorous preparation for their next matchup with Rain or Shine. He admitted that although they had no influence over the results of other games, they did have control over their preparation, attitude, and on-court performance. Cariaso emphasized the value of remaining grounded, carrying out one’s duties, and being prepared for the next challenge. His strategy is indicative of a way of thinking that emphasizes adaptability, planning, and keeping the team’s attention on the things that it can directly affect.

Local support for Blackwater was led by Sedrick Barefield (age 14) and Justin Chua (age 9). Blackwater gained an early advantage of 30–21 and then extended that lead to a high of 25 at 107-82.

The Beermen (6-4) relied primarily on June Mar Fajardo (23 and 12) and CJ Perez (21–8) in the absence of Adams.

Depending on Ginebra’s ultimate record, SMB would receive the second or third seeding into the Last-8 as a result of this outcome.

Scores at the end of the match

Blackwater with 111 points for the win

Individual scores: King 49, Barefield 14, Chua 9, David 6, Rosario 6, Kwekuteye 5, Ilagan 4, Casio 4, Escoto 4, Jopia 4, Suerte 4, Corteza 2, Mitchell 0, Ponferrada 0, Montalbo 0.

San Miguel with 94 points

Individual scores: Fajardo 23, Perez 21, Romeo 15, Lassiter 5, Rosales 5, Trollano 5, Cruz 4, Brondial 4, Nava 4, Teng 4, Manuel 2, Jimenez 2, Ross 0.

Scores per quarter

30-21, 52-43, 85-72, 111-94