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New season, new hope for Blackwater.
Showing brand new form, the Elite started the 2016-17 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on the right note by winning over Phoenix, 94-87, last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With a lot of expectations from him, top rookie Mac Belo rose to the occasion and debuted with a bang, topscoring for Blackwater with 17 points, on 77 percent shooting (7-of-9), on top of nine rebounds for a near double-double performance.
Sophomore sensation Arthur Dela Cruz completed the night’s one-two punch for Blackwater with an equally stellar double-double production of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
It was a hard-fought contest but Blackwater proved to be the better team at the clutch to claim victory.
The Elite showed poised down the stretch as it broke away from 73-all deadlock with over 10 minutes left in the game.
Blackwater’s 12-4 run in the next five minutes allowed it to take an 85-77 cushion, good enough to hold on until the final horn as the Elite fended off repeated rallies by Phoenix in the waning minutes.
The Elite joined defending champion San Miguel in the winning column.
Dennis Miranda and Dylan Ababou came off the bench and provided sparks by adding 11 and nine points, respectively.
Phoenix was led by Simon Enciso’s game-high 25 points down went down the drain.
The two teams fought neck-to-neck in the first three quarters as they went through rallies after rallies that ended with Blackwater running away in the payoff period.
Meanwhile, TNT Katropa and Rain or Shine were still fighting it out in the first game as they bid to join Blackwater and San Miguel in the winners’ circle.