PBA: Clutch BJ Andrade salvages huge Blackwater upset vs. San Miguel 

BJ Andrade hit timely baskets down the stretch as Blackwater averted collapse to upset San Miguel, 126-120, and end its slump in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. 

The third-year guard came up huge in the closing moments, ripping down back-to-back offensive rebounds and turning them into putback buckets to hand the Bossing a crucial 124–118 lead with 44.2 seconds left.

Andrade and import Robert Upshaw each knocked down a split from the stripe to put the game out of reach as the Beermen missed a total of six attempts from beyond the arc in the final 2:15. 

Upshaw got going early to finish with 35 points laced with 17 rebounds and five assists while Sedrick Barefield led the local support with 29 markers, seven boards, and eight dimes. 

Four more Blackwater reached double-digit scoring with Christian Davis adding 15, Andrade tallying 13, Paul Zamar chipping in 12, and rookie CJ Austria shining with 11 in his PBA debut. 

The victory marked a statement win for the Bossing despite wasting a lead as big as 22, hiking their record to 2–6 while the Beermen slipped to 4–5. Incidentally, Blackwater's first victory came at the expense of Magnolia, San Miguel's sister team.

"That's what we told the boys, don't stop playing. We continue to play the game. I think the boys did all the things that we needed to win this game," Patrick Aquino said as he secured his first win as the Blackwater head coach. 

"The percentage of our three points went up, that's one thing we're looking forward and exploit Rob. Rob is a big guy, he should be exploited and hopefully more to come in the next games."

Even without a presence from Dalph Panopio, Blackwater still came out firing in the first half with Upshaw going unstoppable to bring the Bossing to a comfortable 63-43 lead at one point in the second period. 

San Miguel, though, slowly roared back as CJ Perez caught fire in the third, scoring nine straight points before Marcio Lassiter hit a long two-point basket to force a 76-all deadlock. 

San Miguel turned the tides as they took a 94-92 lead heading to the fourth. 

But Blackwater remained unfazed amid the San Miguel comeback storm as Zamar hit a four-pointer and David buried a triple to keep the score close, 105-103. 

Barefield then fired a three-pointer for a 120-116 cushion before missing his next two attempts, which Andrade cleaned up to extend their lead to a six-point advantage with 44.2 ticks remaining.

Bennie Boatwright picked up where he left off with 38 points together with 13 rebounds and six assists while June Mar Fajardo had 28 markers and 13 boards, but those were not enough to give San Miguel its second win in a row.

Scores:

Blackwater 126 –Upshaw III35, Barefield 29, David 15, Andrade 13, Zamar 12, Austria 11, Tratter 9, Una 2.

San Miguel 120 – Boatwright 38, Fajardo 28, Perez 24, Lassiter 15, Ross 6, Brondial 4, Tauatuaa 3, Tiongson 2, Cruz 0, Cahilig 0.

Quarters: 36-23, 65-50, 92-94, 126-120.

—JKC, GMA News