In the dynamic arena of Philippine basketball, Blackwater has been recognized by Tim Cone, the highly respected coach of Barangay Ginebra, as a team on the verge of becoming a serious contender. After a challenging match where Ginebra narrowly defeated Blackwater 90-87, Cone praised Blackwater’s impressive defense and strategic gameplay, attributes he credited to their new coach Jeffrey Cariaso.
Cariaso, a former player and mentee of Cone, has seemingly instilled a disciplined, execution-focused approach in Blackwater, reminiscent of the Alaska team’s style in the 1990s. Cone also commended the performance of Blackwater’s young guard RK Ilagan, who displayed notable skill against Ginebra’s experienced guards. Cone believes that with continued guidance under Cariaso, Blackwater is on a trajectory to become a contending team in the near future.