The Blackwater Bossing snapped their three‑game losing streak on Wednesday with a 106-100 come‑from‑behind victory over the Phoenix Fuel Masters. And, as par for the course, import Kentrell Barkley and main man Sedrick Barefield did much of the heavy lifting. But, as far as coach Pat Aquino is concerned, the team’s reserves helped turn the game around.
And by reserves he meant guys who rarely get heavy minutes—Jed Mendoza, Troy Malilin, and Jack Cruz‑Dumont.
“Credit to the bench players that I had to pull out, like Jed Mendoza, Troy Malilin, [and] Jack [Cruz]‑Dumont. Everybody helped out,” Aquino told reporters in the postgame press conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
All three played in the fourth quarter, when Blackwater overcame a nine‑point Phoenix lead. In fact, Malilin and Cruz‑Dumont started the final frame—along with fellow reserve James Una—and helped the Bossing start off with 11 unanswered to retake the lead at 88-86. Barefield scored 7 in that run, with Malilin adding 4 more.
Hustle and Grit From the Blackwater Bench
Of course, the trio of Mendoza, Malilin, and Cruz‑Dumont barely get extended minutes at Blackwater, especially in the PBA Governors’ Cup. But it doesn’t mean their value to the team is lost on Aquino.
“It’s great having them around. I told them to be ready, and they were there,” he added. “’Yan ang mga kailangan namin sa team. Mga extra utility guys that you know can turn around some games with the hustle and not giving up. Puro puso.”
That much Mendoza, Malilin, and Cruz‑Dumont showed against the Fuel Masters.
In seven minutes, Mendoza hounded Phoenix’s guards full court, while Cruz‑Dumont played stellar defense on Ricci Rivero for stretches. Malilin, meanwhile, added 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 15 high‑energy minutes. He even got a crucial offensive carom that he capped off with a short undergoal stab to give the Bossing a 101-93 cushion with a minute left in regulation.
Indeed, Barkley and Barefield did the heavy lifting. But Mendoza, Malilin, and Cruz‑Dumont certainly provided a big lift, too.
