The Blackwater Elite is scheduled for a head-to-head game against the Terrafirma Dyip at 10 AM on November 6, 2020, live from the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.
The Elite bowed down to Meralco in their recent match-up in the PBA bubble, 89-95, and in the process giving the Bolt’s bid for a quarterfinals berth a shot in the arm.
The Bolts led the entire game but still had to hold off a slow but strong fourth-quarter surge by the Elite to climb to sixth in the standings at 4-3.
In the third frame, Blackwater clawed their way back in the game behind Don Trollano to make it a close game down the stretch. The Elite was actually just trailing 73-75 when Chris Newsome and Bong Quinto connived to bring the Bolts out of danger.
The Elite traded baskets with Meralco and had a chance to come closer after Trollano — who brought within five at 85-80 in the final minute — rebounded his own miss and gave his team another possession. Still, Blackwater just couldn’t come up with anything more productive after that.
With five seconds to go, the game was later marred by the ejection of KG Canaleta and Raymar Jose after being called for flagrant foul personal 2 infractions, and Meralco already had the win well secured.
Trollano scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the third quarter, while Roi Sumang added 15 and rookie Richard Escoto with 13 for Blackwater, which suffered a fourth straight loss for a 2-5 record and in danger of being booted out early in the bubble.
Meanwhile, Terrafirma was turned back by the Magnolia Hotshots, who leaned on Paul Lee’s 29 points, including 5-of-8 from three-point range in towing the Hotshots to their third straight win in the bubble.
Terrafirma remains winless in seven games and now needs to sweep all of its remaining four games to salvage whatever slim chance the team has of making the playoffs.
Once again, CJ Perez led the team with 19 points but was held to just three in the opening half. Reden Celda complemented Perez with 16 points, while veterans Eric Camson and Glenn Khobuntin with 14 and 10, respectively.
Embattled Blackwater fights to stay alive in the chase for the PBA bubble quarterfinals when it battles winless Terrafirma who need to sweep their last four games – versus Blackwater Friday, Meralco Sunday, Barangay Ginebra Monday, and NLEX Wednesday – while praying that teams in the fringes of the Magic 8 won’t reach five wins anymore to have a shot at the playoffs.