The Blackwater Bossing picked up their third straight win, hacking out an 89-82 win over the Meralco Bolts in the 2023 PBA on Tour Exhibition at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City on Friday.
Troy Rosario showed leadership anew, scoring 21 points for the Bossing, who improved to 6-3 in the preseason tourney.
Michael DiGregorio and Rashawn McCarthy combined for 31 points for Blackwater, ending Meralco’s two-game streak.
The Bolts fell to 6-4.
“We’re on the right track,” said Rosario. “Since nag-take over si coach Jeff (Cariaso), naging maganda ang nira-run ng practices namin at nagso-show sa game. May mga lapses pa rin sa offense at defense, but kaya naman tayo andito sa PBA on Tour para makita mga iyun.”
He added that despite his aggression, he makes sure he keeps himself injury-free.
“Inaalagaan ko pa rin ang sarili ko at may mga aches and pains pa. Hopefully pagdating ng season wala na totally,” said Rosario.
Ahead by a solitary point at the start of the payoff period, Bossing unloaded a 14-5 run, sparked by Joshua Torralba’s pull-up jumper, for an 11-point advantage halfway through the quarter, 85-74.
The Bolts cut the deficit to 85-79 with over two minutes left in the clock after a 5-0 rally.
But Rosario stopped the Bolts from completing their comeback with a layup in the final minute of the match.
Raymond Almazan paced Meralco with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds.
