Blackwater Bossing

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
2023–24 Blackwater Bossing season
Founded	2014
History	Blackwater Elite (2014–2021) Blackwater Bossing (2021–present)
Team colors	Red, black, white
Company	Ever Bilena
Board governor	Silliman Sy
Team manager	Joel Co
Head coach	Jeffrey Cariaso
Ownership	Dioceldo S. Sy
Affiliation(s)	Blackwater Bossing Red President
Retired numbers	1 (11)
Light uniform Dark uniform

History

PBA D-League

Main article: Blackwater Sports

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]

PBA

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

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

Blackwater Bossing roster v t e
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 1   DiGregorio, Michael (FA) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1991–12–12 McKendree G 2   Concepcion, Archie (R / FA) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 189 lb (86 kg) Arellano G/F 4   Suerte, Rey 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1994–10–04 UE G 5   Tungcab, Jaydee 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1997–05–05 Philippines G 6   Casio, JVee (C) 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1986–09–01 De La Salle G 7   Kwekuteye, James (R) 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/C 9   Chua, Justin 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1989–07–13 Ateneo C 13   Jopia, Clifford (R) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) San Beda G/F 15   Yap, James 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 1982–02–15 UE F 18   Rosario, Troy 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 198 lb (90 kg) 1992–01–20 National-U F 23   Escoto, Richard 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 204 lb (93 kg) 1997–03–21 Far Eastern F 25   David, Christian (R) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1998–06–19 Butler G 27   Nambatac, Rey 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 1994–01–27 Letran G 28   Ayonayon, Mike   (IN) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1992–12–08 Philippine Christian F 31   Sena, James 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1988–08–31 José Rizal F 33   Hill, Tyrus 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996–03–20 De La Salle	Head coach   Jeffrey Cariaso Assistant coach(es)   Joe Silva (1st assistant)   Junjie Ablan   Mike Cortez   Aries Dimaunahan Team manager   Johnson Martinez   Rhona Tibor (assistant) Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie (3x3) Assigned to 3x3 team   Injured Roster

Players

Main article: Blackwater Bossing all-time roster

• Dylan Ababou (2016–2017)
• Val Acuña
• Raymond Aguilar (2016–2017)
• Jason Ballesteros (2014–2016)
• Raphael Banal (2016–present)
• Mac Belo (2016–present)
• Gilbert Bulawan (2014–2016)
• Niño Canaleta (2017–present)
• Jerick Cañada
• JR Cawaling
• Robby Celiz
• Reil Cervantes
• Mike Cortez
• Mark Cruz (2017–present)
• Arthur dela Cruz (2015–2017)
• J.P. Erram
• Bryan Faundo
• James Forrester (2016–2017)
• Riego Gamalinda
• Frank Golla (2016)
• Brian Heruela
• Carlo Lastimosa
• Eddie Laure
• Dave Marcelo (2017–present)
• Jason Melano
• Denok Miranda (2016–present)
• Alex Nuyles
• Bobby Ray Parks Jr.
• Kyle Pascual
• Tristan Perez (2016–present)
• John Pinto (2016–2019)
• Raphael Reyes
• Larry Rodriguez
• Sunday Salvacion
• James Sena
• Roi Sumang
• Chris Timberlake
• Juami Tiongson
• Almond Vosotros

Imports

•     Marcus Douthit (2015 Commissioner's) & (2015 Governors')
•   Marcus Cousin (2015 Governors')
•   M. J. Rhett (2016 Commissioner's)
•   Eric Dawson (2016 Governors')
•   Imad Qahwash (2016 Governors')
•   Keala King (2016 Governors')
•   Greg Smith (2017 Commissioner's) & (2019 Commissioner's)
•   Trevis Simpson (2017 Governors')
•   Henry Walker (2017 Governors'), (2018 Commissioner's) & (2018 Governors')
•   Jarrid Famous (2018 Commissioner's)
•   Alex Stepheson (2019 Commissioner's)
•   Staphon Blair (2019 Commissioner's)
•   Marqus Blakely (2019 Governors')
•   Aaron Fuller (2019 Governors')
•   Jaylen Bond (2021 Governors')
•   Shawn Glover 2021 Governors' & (2023 Governors')
•   Cameron Krutwig (2022–23 Commissioner's)
•   Troy Williams (2023 Governors')
•   Chris Ortiz (2023–24 Commissioner's)

Retired numbers

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

• ^a  – The team retired his jersey number in his honor during Blackwater's first game in the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup versus the NLEX Road Warriors on July 16, 2016. He collapsed and died during the team's practice on July 3, 2016.^[10][11]

Coaches

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

Main article: List of Blackwater Bossing seasons

Records from the 2023–24 PBA season:

Conf.	Team name	Elimination round				Playoffs
		Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
COM	Blackwater Bossing	11th/12	1	10	.091	Did not qualify
PHI		10th/12	4	7	.364
Total elimination round			5	17	.227	0 playoff appearance
Total playoffs			0	0	–	0 semifinals appearance
Total 2023–24			5	17	.227	0 championship
Total franchise			66	197	.251	0 Championships

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

See also

• Blackwater Bossing draft history

References

1. "Blackwater set to join PBA as 11th franchise". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
2. Richard Dy (September 16, 2014). . Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
3. . 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). . 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 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