Blackwater upbeat in joining elite PBA roster

MANILA, Philippines - With a mix of youth and experience, the Blackwater Elite hope they can mix it up with the old powerhouse teams and fellow newcomers Kia Motors and NLEX and make an impact in their PBA debut when the league’s Season 40 fires off next month either at the Smart Araneta Coliseum or the newly built Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

As a new team with players recruited from the dispersal draft, the rookie draft and the trade market, team owner Dioceldo Sy targets Top Eight finishes in their initial season in the pro league.

“It’s not just about going for a win against Kia. We’re hopeful we can be a Top Eight performer in our first year in the PBA,” said Sy in introducing his team in a press launch at Tao Yuan restaurant in Ermita, Manila yesterday.

The team management of the Ever Bilena Cosmetics Inc. franchise came in full force, including governor Silliman Sy, alternate governor Wilbert Loa, team manager Johnson Martinez and assistant team manager Rudy Yu.

Leo Isaac, a champion player with Mapua in the NCAA and Ginebra in the PBA, will be making yet another PBA coaching comeback, this time assisted by Rodil Sablan, Patrick Aquino and Aris Dimaunahan.

Dispersal draft recruits Alex Nuyles, JR Cawaling and Paul Artadi, and trade acquisitions Sunday Salvacion and Jason Ballesteros banner the roster that includes young guns Robby Celiz, Bacon Austria, Juami Tiongson and Brian Heruela.

A champion team in the defunct PBL and in the PBA D-League, Blackwater also signed Eddie Laure, Bryan Faundo, JP Erram, Gilbert Bulawan, Bambam Gamalinda, Chris Timberlake, Frank Golla, Ogie Menor and Pari Llagas.

“We are a team of players out to prove they belong and players out to reinvent themselves. We’ll try to win games and we’ll try to give our share of excitement,” said Isaac.

“I have players who can hustle. They want to be recognized as a Blackwater player and make their former mother teams regret putting them in the dispersal draft,” Isaac added.

The management has high hopes on the coaching staff.

“Coach Leo and Aris (Dimaunahan) are former Ginebra players. We want their Ginebra spirit, their fighting attitude to rub on our players,” said Sy.

Blackwater had actually also gained the signing rights on two-time MVP awardee Danny Ildefonso. The two parties, however, failed to strike an agreement.