Way back in 2014, there were 2 expansion teams that were added to the Philippine Basketball Association, making a grand total of 12 teams competing in the 39th season.
It was Terrafirma Dyip, formerly known as Kia Sorento, and Blackwater Elite, currently known as the Blackwater Bossings, that fans had a lot of hope for as they play in the PBA.
A decade later, let’s take a look at what Blackwater has done throughout its PBA stint.
A Glimpse of “Eliteness” in their Early Years
2014-15 Season: Philippine Cup – 1st Conference of Blackwater Elite
The very first game of Blackwater Elite in the PBA
- 0 wins and 11 losses
- Missed the playoffs and first winless conference they had
2014-15 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 3 wins and 8 losses
2014-15 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 1 win and 10 losses
2015-16 Season: Philippine Cup
- 3 wins and 8 losses
- First time not ending up as the 12th seed after the eliminations
- Ended as the 10th seed
2015-16 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 3 wins and 8 losses
- Second straight 10th seed
2015-16 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 1 win and 10 losses
- Went back to the dead last 12th seed after the elimination round
Can’t Spell “Blackwater” Without “W”: Winningest Seasons for the Franchise
2016-17 Season: Philippine Cup
- 5 wins and 6 losses
- Most franchise wins they had
- Had the highest franchise finish ever as the 9th seed
2016-17 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 2 wins and 9 losses
- Went back to the 11th seed
2016-17 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 5 wins and 6 losses
- First time entering the playoffs in franchise history
- Ended the eliminations as the 8th seed
- Won their 1st ever Quarterfinals game against the #1 seed Meralco Bolts, 92 – 91
- Lost to the Bolts next game, 104 – 96, because of Meralco’s twice-to-win advantage
2017-18 Season: Philippine Cup
- 5 wins and 6 losses
- Missed the playoffs as the 10th seed
2017-18 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 1 win and 10 losses
2017-18 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 7 wins and 4 losses
- Best franchise record ever
- Ended the elimination round as the 5th seed, their highest ever
- Loss in a close quarterfinals game, 103 – 99, as the 4th seed Magnolia Hotshots has a Twice-To-Win advantage
2019 Season: Philippine Cup – The “Bobby Ray Parks Jr.” Era
- Drafted Bobby Ray Parks Jr. as the number #2 overall pick, son of PBA Legendary Import, Bobby Ray Parks
- 2 wins and 9 losses
2019 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 7 wins and 4 losses
- 2nd time to have this franchise’s win-loss record
- Ended with the highest franchise finish ever as the 3rd seed in come playoffs
- Played the 6th-seeded Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a Best-Of-Three Quarterfinals
- Lost Game 1 in a close game, 93 – 90
- Won Game 2, 100 – 96, to record their 2nd playoff franchise win
- Lost Game 3 in another close game, 85 – 53
2019 Season: Governor’s Cup – End of the “Bobby Ray Parks Jr.” Era
- 2 wins and 9 losses
- Traded away Bobby Ray Parks Jr. to TNT KaTropa in November 2019 in the middle of the conference in exchange for Don Trollano, Anthony Semerad, Season 47 Draft Pick
- Draft Pick in 2021 was Mark Dyke…was useless anyway
Back to a Rebuild Mode: Unnecessary Rebranding
2020 Season: Philippine Cup – Pandemic Year
- 2 wins and 9 losses
2021-22 Season: Philippine Cup – Renamed to “Blackwater Bossing”
- 0 wins and 11 losses – 2nd time going winless in a conference
2021-22 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 1 win and 10 losses
- Ended the PBA’s longest losing streak ever in history (29 Games)
- Last won a game on October 17, 202,0 and the next win was on March 9, 2022
Found its Winning Formula Only To Suffer Another Rebuild
2022-23 Season: Philippine Cup
- Drafted rookie 17th Pick Ato Ular from the 2nd Round in the PBA Draft
- 5 wins and 6 losses
- Ato Ular and veteran JVee Casio led Bossings to the 8th seed
- Lost to the #1-seeded San Miguel Beermen, as they had the twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals
2022-23 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 3 wins and 9 losses
2022-23 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 1 win and 10 losses
2023-24 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 1 win and 10 losses
2023-24 Season: Philippine Cup
- 4 wins and 7 losses
- Before the conference began, they traded Ato Ular to the NLEX Road Warriors for Justin Chua, Jaydee Tungcab and TNT’s 2025 First Round Pick
2024-25 Season: Governor’s Cup
- 5 wins and 5 losses
2024-25 Season: Commissioner’s Cup
- 3 wins and 9 losses
2024-25 Season: Philippine Cup
- 2 wins and 9 losses
The Blackwater Elite were always a promising team whenever they got a prized rookie from any PBA Draft. It’s just that they are too impatient for success, and they’re solely relying on their young players to be the face of their franchise.
And when the time comes that the team has succeeded, which is making the playoffs, they would then trade away their players who were vital for their short-term success in hopes of getting to the “win now situation, which has never really happened.
In the 50th season of the PBA, come October, it’s really hard to anticipate how the Bossings perform. They can purposely lose games and “tank” again since they can say to the public that they are in a rebuild mode. Or surprise everyone that they will reach the playoffs while having their 50th season rookies as the #1 option for the team.
Needless to say, for the past decade, a lot of fans have agreed that Blackwater has always been a “rebuilding team” and once they were built, they’ll collapse because of misdirection.
