Blackwater back on winning track with victory over NLEX

Ronjay Buenafe was part of the balanced Blackwater attack. GMA News

Blackwater pounced on a shorthanded NLEX squad to post a 96-85 victory on Wednesday at SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The win snapped the Elite's two-game losing skid for a 3-2 win-loss record in the Philippine Cup. NLEX, meanwhile, dropped to 1-3.

But Blackwater coach Leo Isaac downplayed the win.

"It just so happened that NLEX is lacking key players," he said, referring to the absence of injured Road Warriors big men Asi Taulava and Enrico Villanueva.

Arthur dela Cruz led a balanced charge for Blackwater with 18 points, while Kyle Pascual and Ronjay Buenafe chipped in 16 and 13 points, respectively.

"One player cannot win the game for the whole team, it has to be a total team effort," said Isaac.

Carlo Lastimosa carried the fight for NLEX with 23 points, while Mac Baracael scored 16. —JST, GMA News

The scores:

BLACKWATER 96 - Dela Cruz 18, Pascual 16, Buenafe 13, Sena 11, Belo 9, Aguilar 8, Cervantes 7, Pinto 6, Ababou 4, Gamalinda 2, Miranda 2, Sumang 0.

NLEX 85 - Lastimosa 23, Baracael 16, Soyud 9, Anthony 8, Camson 6, Guinto 6, Khobuntin 5, Alas 4, Monfort 4, Rios 2, Villanueva J. 2. 

Quarters: 24-18, 47-41, 77-64, 96-85