Walker's late play keys Blackwater's 1st win

MANILA, Philippines — Henry Walker made his presence on both ends of the court to give Blackwater its first win halfway through the Commissioner’s Cup elimination round.

Tied with the Magnolia Hotshots with eight seconds left to play, Walker, a returning Elite import, detached from the screen he put up for Mike DiGregorio. Two dribbles and strides from the three-point line saw him soaring for the basket to tie give his team the lead and an opportunity to add as the game clock stopped 3.1.

Walker missed the freebie but redeemed himself by thwarting a pass by Magnolia’s Jio Jalalon, sealing the deal at 86-84 to cap the first game of Wednesday’s PBA hostilities at the Big Dome.

.@304skywalkerjr FOR THE WIN!!!!! ????????

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“Well ang designed play doon — ang sabi ko kay Henry, since tuma-trap, is that he slide to the elbow and take the ball there. And what happened is the same play. Eh nagkagulo, mas na-open lang kaagad si Walker sa gitna. ‘Di ko sinasabing perpekto ‘yung ginawang play, but that is the thing,” said Blackwater head coach Bong Ramos of the final sequence.

“The team is improving little by little every game,” Ramos said of the win. “Again, I keep on telling them to continue to pound the rock— mabibiyak din ‘yan, makukuha din natin ‘yan (win).”

JP Erram led the team in scoring with 19 points. Allein Maliksi chimed in 15 as Walker and DiGregorio both tallied 11.

Magnolia enjoyed a 14-point lead before squandering it midway through the game.

“At least, may positive na nangyayari sa team. When I came it’s really a big adjustment for the players eh. Marami akong binagong maliliit na bagay na hindi nila dating ginagawa. At least nagrerespond na sila ngayon,” he added.

The victory is Blackwater’s first in seven outings.

"Nagkaroon din kami ng konting favor doon sa taas. To God be the glory,” Ramos closed.

Magnolia, for their part, slides down to 3-3 in the mid-season joust.

The scores:

BLACKWATER 86 - Erram 19, Maliksi 16, DiGregorio 11, Walker 11, Sumang 8, Zamar 8, Pinto 6, Al-Hussaini 5, Belo 2, Sena 0, Jose 0, Palma 0.

MAGNOLIA 84 - Barroca 16, Simon 12, Kelly 12, Reavis 11, Jalalon 8, Brondial 7, Melton 6, Dela Rosa 5, Lee 3, Herndon 2, Pascual 2, Ramos 0.

Quarterscores: 19-27, 40-48, 69-61, 86-84.