Blackwater aims to be razor-sharp

Blackwater won’t make it to the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals unless the Bossing beats Barangay Ginebra by 45 at the Ynares Center, Antipolo, on Sunday. In the battle for the fourth quarterfinal ticket out of Group B, all Ginebra has to do is to defeat Blackwater to secure the spot. If Ginebra loses, three teams will tie for fourth place – Ginebra, Meralco and Blackwater – with identical 4-6 records. At the moment, Ginebra leads in the plus-minus reckoning at +30 with Meralco next at +7 and Blackwater at -37.

If Blackwater loses to Ginebra, it will finish the conference at 3-7. In the Philippine Cup this season, the Bossing went 1-10 and in the Commissioner’s Cup, 2-10. Coach Pat Aquino took over from Jeff Cariaso after Blackwater got off to a 1-4 start in the Commissioner’s Cup. The Bossing’s performance will earn the first overall pick in the coming draft. But Blackwater won’t be able to exercise the privilege, giving up its slot to NLEX via a three-team trade in 2024. Blackwater will be last to choose on the first round, acquiring TNT’s pick in the same 2024 trade.

Next season, Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy announced the Bossing will be known as the Razors. “It’s more like feng shui – matalas, matulis, sharp like a razor,” he said. Blackwater actually used its razor line in two seasons of the PBA 3x3 competitions. But in 5x5, the Razors will make their debut.

Blackwater’s razors are available online and in retail stores all over the country. The three razor variants are double dash (twin blade with a non-slip handle and a lubricating strip), smart shave (twin blade with a longer non-slip handle and lubricating strip) and hexaedge (premium six blade with a non-slip grip, lubricating strip and pivoting head). Sy said his favorite is the hexaedge.

Aquino said Blackwater has to be super sharp to justify being called the Razors. Choosing a blue-chip rookie from the coming draft is key. “We’ll be eyeing to get a big man and a shooting guard,” he said. “Still don’t know whom we can pick but I’m watching UAAP, NCAA and MPBL to see whom we can get. As of now, wala naman any talks of trading anyone. Just making sure we sign those whom we feel can help the team grow next season. I know what things we should do and get from the draft. There are a lot of players expiring, almost half the team. Sed (Barefield), Abu (Tratter), Nick (Demusis), Mike (DiGregorio), James (Sena), Dave (Murrell), Jack (Dumont), Jed (Mendoza). CJ (Austria) is expiring in February and Kib (Montalbo) in May.” Aquino said on a personal note, he learned valuable lessons from the experience this conference and they’ll be put to good use with the Razors.