The Blackwater Bossing is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena, Inc. that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise started as one of the founding teams in the PBA Developmental League. It transferred to the PBA after being accepted as an expansion team. The team is named after Ever Bilena's brand of men's fragrances.

Blackwater Bossing
2024–25 Blackwater Bossing season
Blackwater Bossing logo
Founded2014
HistoryBlackwater Elite (2014–2021)
Blackwater Bossing (2021–present)
Team colorsRed, black, white
     
CompanyEver Bilena
Board governorSilliman Sy
Team managerJohnson Martinez
Rhona Tibor (assistant)
Head coachJeffrey Cariaso
Team captainTroy Rosario
OwnershipDioceldo S. Sy
Affiliation(s)Blackwater Bossing Red President
Retired numbers1 (11)
Light uniform jersey
Team colours
Light uniform
Dark uniform jersey
Team colours
Dark uniform

History

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Blackwater was one of the founding teams in the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League). It won one PBA D-League championship. The team's predecessor was the Blu Detergent team[1] in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), best known as the first Philippine basketball team of Asi Taulava.[2]

On April 10, 2014, Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., along with Manila North Tollways Corporation (NLEX Road Warriors) and Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia Sorento), were approved by the PBA Board of Governors to become expansion teams in the PBA.[3] Upon entry to the PBA, the three teams will select players from a dispersal draft in July consisting of unprotected current PBA players and free agents.[4] They will also pick rookies in the 2014 PBA draft in August.[5]

Blackwater and the NLEX Road Warriors became the first franchises to enter the PBA from its D-League.

With the help of Gilas player Marcus Douthit, Blackwater got their first win in the 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup against San Miguel Beermen, 80–77.

In August 2020, it was reported that the team would change its name to "Blackwater Bossing".[6] The new branding, including the team's logo and jersey design, was unveiled in September 2020.[7]

International stint

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On July 12, 2018, Blackwater Elite completed a six-game sweep of the Pacific Caesar 50th Anniversary Pro Tournament in Surabaya, Indonesia.[8]

The following week, they represented the Philippines along with NLEX Road Warriors in the Asia League's Summer Super 8 Invitational Tournament held in Macau.[9]

Current roster

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Players Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From
G 0   Ilagan, RK 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1997–04–03 San Sebastian
G 2   Barefield, Sedrick (R) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1996–11–18 Utah
G/F 4   Suerte, Rey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1994–10–04 UE
G/F 5   Tungcab, Jaydee 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1997–05–05 Philippines
G 6   Casio, JVee 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1986–09–01 De La Salle
G 7   Kwekuteye, James 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 182 lb (83 kg) 1998–08–15 San Beda
F/C 8   Guinto, Bradwyn 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1991–10–20 San Sebastian
F 12   Corteza, Miguel (R) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1998–02–23 St. Benilde
C 13   Jopia, Clifford 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) San Beda
G 15   Montalbo, Kib 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1996–04–02 De La Salle
C 18   Chua, Justin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1989–07–13 Ateneo
G 22   Mitchell, DJ (R) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Hartford
F 23   Escoto, Richard 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 204 lb (93 kg) 1997–03–21 Far Eastern
F 25   David, Christian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1998–06–19 Butler
F/C 27   Ponferada, Jewel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 211 lb (96 kg) 1988–07–08 National-U
G 28   Ayonayon, Mike   6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1992–12–08 Philippine Christian
F 33   Hill, Tyrus 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996–03–20 De La Salle
F 94   King, George (CI) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1994–01–15 Colorado
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Team manager



Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (CI) Commissioner's Cup Import
  • (GI) Governors' Cup Import
  • (EI) EASL Import
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (R) Rookie
  •   Injured

Roster



Players

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Imports

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Retired numbers

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Blackwater Bossing retired number
Player Position Tenure
11 Gilbert Bulawan PF/ C 2014–2016[a]

Coaches

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  1. Leo Isaac (2014–fired 2018)
  2. Bong Ramos (2018–fired 2019)
  3. Aries Dimaunahan (2019 as interim coach)
  4. Nash Racela (2019–fired 2020)
  5. Ariel Vanguardia (2021–2023 as interim coach)
  6. Jeffrey Cariaso (2023–present)

Season-by-season records

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Records from the 2024–25 PBA season:
Conf. Team name Elimination round Playoffs
Finish W L PCT Stage Results
GOV Blackwater Bossing 5th in Group B 5 5 .500 Did not qualify
COM TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
PHI TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
Total elimination round 5 5 .500 TBD
Total playoffs TBD TBD TBD
Total 2024–25 5 5 .500 TBD
Total franchise 71 202 .260 0 Championships

*one-game playoffs
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage

Awards

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Individual awards

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PBA Mythical Second Team

PBA Press Corps Individual Awards

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Defensive Player of the Year All-Rookie Team

All-Star Weekend

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All - Star Selection

2016

2017

2018

2019

  • Mac Belo

2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Blackwater set to join PBA as 11th franchise". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  2. ^ Richard Dy (September 16, 2014). "Expansion ballclub Blackwater Sports keen to show it belongs ahead of PBA debut". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  3. ^ "PBA approves entry of new teams NLEX, Kia, Blackwater for next season". InterAksyon.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "PBA readies dispersal draft". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  5. ^ "solarsportsdesk.ph". Solarsportsdesk.ph. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  6. ^ Goodbye, Elite. Hello, Bossing as Blackwater to adopt new moniker, Gerry Ramos, spin.ph, August 1, 2020
  7. ^ From the wires (September 18, 2020). "Blackwater Bossing unveil new logo ahead of PBA bubble". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  8. ^ "Blackwater sweeps Pacific Caesar Basketball Pro tourney". Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  9. ^ Lintag, Paul (July 13, 2018). "SUPER 8: PBA's NLEX, Blackwater, set for Macau invitational". ABS-CBN Sports. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  10. ^ Blackwater set to retire jersey of fallen Gilbert Bulawan Archived July 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Rey Joble, Interaksyon.com, July 4, 2016
  11. ^ Blackwater gives tribute to late player Gilbert Bulawan after retiring jersey no.11, Gerry Ramos, SPIN.ph, July 16, 2016