By REYNALD MAGALLON
George King and Sedrick Barefield formed a lethal one-two punch as Blackwater made it two wins in a row with a 123-111 victory over Phoenix in Group B of the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
King and Barefield combined for 76 of the Bossing’s total output with the latter even hitting the dagger triple and his familiar “night, night” celebration to shut the door on the Fuel Masters’ comeback and improve to a 2-3 record in the standings.
Phoenix, on the other hand, remained winless through four games now despite an impressive debut from new import Brandon Francis.
King continued to wax hot in his second game for Blackwater, dropping 44 points and 13 rebounds to follow up his 33-point and 19-rebound performance in a searing PBA debut that gave Blackwater its first taste of victory in the season.
But it was Barefield who provided the killing blows in the end as he poured 11 of his career-best 32 points in the final frame – including a crucial and-1 play to stop the bleeding for the Bossing and a corner trey that put the game to rest after Blackwater took a 122-109 lead with 1:21 left.
Blackwater actually looked to be on its way to a dominant victory after taking a commanding 21-point lead early in the final frame but Phoenix, like its previous games, ignited a huge uprising and pulled within five, 109-104, with a little over five minutes left.
That was when Barefield restored order and doused the Fuel Masters’ fighting spirit with his timely hits.
RK Ilagan contributed a solid outing of 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals without a single turnover while Troy Rosario added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Francis introduced himself in a rousing fashion, immediately exploding for 45 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists although he had six errors to his name.
Jason Perkins backstopped him with 29 points and eight rebounds but there was basically no one after them in double figures.
