BLACKWATER failed in its bid to extend a franchise record the last time out, but now has plenty of footnotes to go with a big bounce-back win.
The Elite pummelled hapless Kia 118-97 Friday to get back on the winning track in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Henry Walker flirted with a triple double to the tune of 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and got a ton of support from his local teammates led by the likes of JP Erram and Mike Digregorio.
Erram had his own double-double of 16 points and 14 boards on top of four blocked shots, Digregorio added 16 and nine while KG Canaleta and Rafael Banal chipped in at least 12 each as Blackwater rebounded from a 97-116 loss to TNT just last Wednesday that cut short its winning streak at a franchise-best three.
"We noticed we lacked energy against TNT and 'energy' was the word we needed in this game," said coach Leo Isaac after his Elite improved their record to 4-4.
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"True enough, we showed good energy both offensively and defensively, and dictated tempo for the first three quarters of this game."
The victory, fashioned after Blackwater recorded franchise all-time records for most points in a quarter (40 in the opening period), half (70 at halftime) and three-pointers (19), should also give the team momentum going to its remaining elimination round games against Barangay Ginebra next Friday, GlobalPort on Sept. 17 and Rain or Shine on Sept. 23.
"We needed this win," admitted Isaac, before baring that Chris Ellis and Dave Marcelo, newly acquired from the Kings for Art dela Cruz and Raymund Aguilar and did not see action against Kia, will suit up in their remaining games.
Kia remained winless in eight games notwithstanding the 28-point, six-assist debut of new import Geron Johnson.
Philip Paniamogan, Mark Yee and Jackson Corpuz each also finished in double figures, but the Picanto are now faced with the monumental task of winning against Alaska, San Miguel Beer and Star and hope those victories would be enough for them to play off for the eighth and last quarterfinals slot.
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Blackwater placed Kia in such a predicament after a torrid start that spilled over to the third quarter as it ultimately wound up with an output that is way above its league-worst 94.7 ppg.
After ceding a 21-40 opening quarter, Kia was immediately done in by a dismal second canto in which it made just four of 21 shots and committed seven turnovers to trail by as much as 67-25.
Paniamogan and Jason Deutchman did end the period with a triple each, but those could only bring the Picanto within 31-70 at the break.
It was the biggest halftime difference the league has seen since Sta. Lucia Realty toted a 58-18 lead over Coca-Cola in the 2007 Philippine Cup.
Once Banal and Canaleta continued to boom in shots from deep, Blackwater even stretched the difference to 86-37.
