PBA: Bol Bol drops 48 as TNT escapes Blackwater in Pat Aquino’s head coaching debut

Bol Bol turned the Ynares Center Antipolo into his own playground after exploding to help TNT escape Blackwater, 99-94, in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Tuesday.

The 7-foot-3 import sizzled for 48 points on 62.5 shooting percentage while also grabbing 11 rebounds and seven blocks as the Tropang 5G improved to 4-2 despite a late comeback storm from the Bossing.

Blackwater, who pulled to within just a point late in the fourth, could not give new head coach Pat Aquino a win in his first game as the interim shot-caller as they fell 1-5.

Bol was almost unstoppable in the fourth, knocking down back-to-back baskets before escaping the Blackwater defense for a slam that sent TNT to a comfortable 89-76 cushion.

Blackwater then turned to import Robert Upshaw and locals Dalph Panopio and Sedrick Barefield in staging a wild 18-6 run that cut the gap to a solitary point.

Upshaw sparked the rampage with a pair of free throws before Panopio and Barefield caught fire from downtown with the latter sinking a three-pointer over the extended arm of Bol, 94-95.

Bol was then whistled for an offensive foul on the side, allowing Blackwater to manufacture a potential game-winner. Barefield, though, came up short in a similar isolation play against Bol as TNT hung tough to steal the victory.

Without Jordan Heading, who’s nursing an injury, Jayson Castro led the local support with 10 points while Rey Nambatac and Calvin Oftana chipped in eight and six markers each.

Scores:

TNT 99 – Bol 48, Castro 10, Nambatac 8, Pogoy 7, Oftana 6, Galinato 5, Williams 5, Nava 4, Ferrer 4, Nieto 2, Ganuelas-Rosser 0, Chua 0, Khobuntin 0, Aurin 0.

Blackwater 94 – Upshaw III 36, Paonopio 17, David 12, Barefield 12, Murrell 7, Andrade 3, Mendoza 2, Zamar 2, Escoto 2, Tratter 1, Una 0, Mallilin 0.

Quarters: 26-21, 52-40, 77-65, 99-94.

—JKC, GMA News