The Blackwater Bossing got their second round off to a rousing start on Wednesday, coming from behind to nail a 106-100 victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. It is Blackwater’s third win of the PBA Governors’ Cup against the same number of losses. It also avenged the Bossing’s 102-93 defeat to the same team to end the first round of eliminations. Meanwhile, Phoenix dropped only their second game against four victories.
What Happened?
Both teams played superbly to open the game, with BJ Johnson’s 15 leading Phoenix to 32 points. Meanwhile, Sedrick Barefield, RK Ilagan, and James Una off the bench combined for 19 of Blackwater’s 30 points. Johnson continued to wax hot in the second canto, firing a personal 10-2 run to put the Fuel Masters up, 42-32. Kentrell Barkley, though, led a fightback as he scored 15 points to help the Bossing turn things around and take a 62-59 lead into intermission.
Phoenix then clamped down on Blackwater in the third, holding the Bossing to just 15 points while a more balanced attack saw the Fuel Masters register 27 for an 86-77 advantage going into the final frame. But, led by Barefield, the Bossing opened the fourth period with 11 unanswered to retake the lead, 88-86. Phoenix then regained the advantage, 93-92, on a Ricci Rivero three-point play, only for Ilagan to take it right back with a booming trey a possession later. That would be the last lead change of the game as the Bossing held on for the win.
Who Stood Out?
Barefield was sensational, firing 11 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter while also adding 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Barkley, of course, played superbly again, finishing with 34 markers on top of 16 caroms, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. Una and Troy Malilin provided a spark off the bench, with each adding 8 points while combining for 16 rebounds.
Johnson led the way for Phoenix with a PBA career-high 45 points, including 27 in the first half alone. Rivero helped out with 15 markers, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists in another superb all-around showing.
3 Keys to the Game
- Fiery fourth. Blackwater looked out of it after a terrible third quarter that saw them trail by nine after three. But the Bossing turned things around behind some excellent defense and a Barefield takeover in the final frame.
- Rebounding. The Bossing dominated the boards in this one, outrebounding Phoenix, 58-43. The gap was particularly notable on the offensive glass, with Blackwater getting 19 to the Fuel Masters’ 10. This resulted in a slim 14-10 advantage in second-chance points, but more importantly, it kept Phoenix from setting a fast pace.
- Points in the paint. Blackwater didn’t excel from downtown in this game, but the team more than made up for it by attacking the basket relentlessly. Barkley led in this regard, with Una and Malilin also helping out. The result was a 56-30 advantage for the Bossing in interior points.
Next Up for the PBA
Friday, August 7, 2026 | Ninoy Aquino Stadium
NLEX Road Warriors vs. Terrafirma Dyip (5:15 p.m.)
Magnolia Hotshots vs. Meralco Bolts (7:30 p.m.)
