LIKE A BOSS
RODRIGUEZ, Rizal—Dalph Panopio was glad to see his PBA debut end on a winning note as Blackwater cruised past Terrafirma on Friday here.
Getting the 107-87 result at Ynares Center II in this town still known informally as Montalban was one of many things the third overall pick in last month’s Rookie Draft was thankful for. “All I wanted before the Draft was to be in a perfect team,” Panopio said after finishing with 13 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 27 minutes for a Blackwater squad that set in motion its quest to go from pushover to playoff club in the Philippine Cup.
“And I feel like since the first workout [with Blackwater] before the Draft that this was the team for me,” added the 25-year-old guard born to Filipino parents in Italy. Panopio showcased his playmaking skills that could bode well for the Bossing’s initial goal for the season-opening conference.
Panopio was just one of the main reasons for Blackwater’s triumph.
Christian David came into the season with a new contract and apparently with new vigor after posting 18 of his 24 points during the first half, which saw Blackwater take control of the Terrafirma side.
RK Ilagan, tasked to be more of a leader by Jeffrey Cariaso, who is now in his fifth season as coach, also stepped up with 22 points while hauling down a career-high 10 rebounds, prompting coach Cariaso to joke that the 5-foot-7 guard will be tasked to play center in the next game. The Bossing will next face the Meralco Bolts on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Blackwater prevailed despite missing the services of second-year guard Sedrick Barefield, who is still bothered by a shoulder injury.
Cariaso said Barefield was supposed to be a go for the opener after recovering from the injury he sustained while battling a hard screen in the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament in Davao City last August. Even without Barefield, the Bossing pummeled a Dyip side that got a big performance from new addition Jerrick Ahanmisi.
Ahanmisi dropped 25 points on six triples on top of seven rebounds, three assists and three steals, but Terrafirma had to sulk after the stinging setback. The Dyip will return to action on Sunday against the NLEX Road Warriors at the original Ynares Center in Antipolo.
It was not the good start to the coaching tenure of Terrafirma’s Ronald Tubid, who actually spent more time handing out the reigns to his lead assistant Jeff Napa.
Napa, who calls the shots for National University in the UAAP, was drawing up the plays during timeouts, though Tubid could be spotted giving out instructions as well.
