BLACKWATER’s 101-100 thriller of a win over Magnolia last Wednesday was its first in the PBA Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The loss, only their second in the season-ending conference, hardly mattered for the Hotshots as they have long been assured of the top seeding in the quarterfinals.
For the long-suffering Bossing, the win was everything.
“The monkey is off our back now,” coach Ariel Vanguardia said after Blackwater finally snapped a league-worst 29-game losing streak dating back to last year.
The Bossing bowed out of the tournament with a 1-10 record, but not after a lengthy courtside celebration befitting a team that has just won a championship.
“At least we exited with a won game against the No. 1 team,” said Vanguardia, while maintaining his team is definitely much better than what its slate reflects.
“I made mistakes along the way this conference, I admit that,” added the tactician tapped to replace Nash Racela last September. “(But) I think we’re better than just a one-victory (team).”
Vanguardia now has his sights set on the future, foremost of which is the PBA Rookie Draft sometime in May where he plans to use their picks to beef up the team’s core.
Blackwater has four picks in all, including the No. 1 overall.
“We won’t trade those picks, we’ll keep them. We’ll try to really build this team,” said Vanguardia.
“We’re looking forward to our draft picks,” added the 49-year-old, also the team’s alternate governor. “We have three first-round picks, including the first pick, which is ours, so we’ll have the first crack at whoever the best player is.
“And then we have the first pick in the second round so that’s like four picks that can really help us, help this franchise get over the hump.”
The next season is expected to unfurl sometime in June, enough time for Blackwater
“‘Yun, monkey off our backs. Come next season, next conference, kumbaga mas ready na.
‘Yung core, na-build na ‘yung core, and then we add four or five rookies, talagang makakatulong,” Vanguardia said.
