Jeff Cariaso keeping faith in his team despite Blackwater’s struggles in the Philippine Cup

The Blackwater Bossing recently experienced a packed schedule in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup, playing three games in just five days — a stretch that ultimately hurt them.

Blackwater lost all three games during this period and are now using the break to rest and recuperate. Despite their poor run of results, Bossing head coach Jeff Cariaso believes his team has progressed and is now finding its footing in the Philippine Cup.

“There were several moments that made me proud — the idea of preparing for different opponents, then shifting gears quickly while staying sharp for every game. That’s where I felt we grew the most. And I’m proud of the team for that,” Cariaso said in a media interaction.

It’s worth noting that despite the poor results, several players stepped up — including Christian David, Sedrick Barefield, and RK Ilagan. David delivered against the Meralco Bolts, Barefield showed up against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, and Ilagan performed well in both games. In fact, Blackwater nearly upset Barangay Ginebra and would have won if not for a late game-winner by Japeth Aguilar.

Cariaso added that the three-game stretch in five days was beneficial, as it helped his players understand the importance of consistency.

GALAW GALAW, BOSSING

Christian David and Sedrick Barefield take charge with a quick 8-0 run to rally the Blackwater Bossing in the third quarter laban sa Meralco Bolts sa PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup.#PBASeason49 #PBAAngatAngLaban #PBA50 #OneSports pic.twitter.com/PkxMaWdOXC

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) May 21, 2025

“The stretch helped us understand the importance of consistency. It takes more than effort — it takes attention to detail and execution. You can’t afford to take plays off because teams in the PBA are too good, and they will punish you when they get a chance,” he said.

Blackwater has struggled in the PBA in recent seasons, having failed to qualify for the playoffs in the last two years. Cariaso is not shy about admitting that his ultimate goal is for the team to win a PBA title — a process that will take time and hard work.

“Right now, we are still not a playoff contender. That’s a level we want to reach consistently. We want to make the playoffs in every conference because we need the experience to reach our main goal. We may not be close yet, but I think we’ve taken big strides over the past year, and I believe we are on the right path,” Cariaso concluded.

Blackwater currently sits second from the bottom in the Philippine Cup standings with a 1-7 win-loss record. They have three more games left to work on their deficiencies and will look to start with a strong showing against the TNT Tropang Giga in their next game, scheduled for Friday, June 6, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

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