RK Ilagan had been waiting since April for this moment. When it arrived, he made sure everyone noticed.
The Blackwater Bossing guard exploded for 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting, with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in Blackwater’s stunning 131-108 blowout of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Governors’ Cup opener at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal. For his efforts, the 5-foot-7 spitfired earned the first PBA Press Corps Player of the Week citation of the season-ending conference covering the period July 10 to 12.
RK Ilagan Is Finally Injury Free
The performance meant more than the numbers suggest. RK Ilagan had been sidelined since April with a knee injury that kept him out for most of the Commissioner’s Cup. His return to the starting lineup was a statement—not just about his health, but about what the 29-year-old guard is capable of when healthy and confident.
Bossing coach Pat Aquino saw it coming.
“Very happy for him because I know the talent is there, it’s just how he composes himself going through his first game,” Aquino said. “I just gave him the time and confidence to show his talent and it’s a great comeback for him.”
A Statement for Both Blackwater and RK Ilagan
The win itself was significant for more than just Ilagan’s return. Blackwater avenged a record 56-point Commissioner’s Cup loss to Rain or Shine with a dominant performance that had multiple contributors. Import Kentrell Barkley and Sedrick Barefield were also instrumental in the result—Barefield finishing with 24 points and earning serious consideration for the weekly award himself.
NLEX Road Warriors guard Kevin Alas and Phoenix Fuel Masters forward Jason Perkins were also in the running for the period’s citation.
Ilagan won it. On his first game back. That is the kind of return that makes a statement heading into a conference the Bossing clearly intend to take seriously.
