Blackwater Bossing

The Blackwater Bossing is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena, Inc. that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise started as one of the founding teams in the PBA Developmental League. It transferred to the PBA after being accepted as an expansion team. The team is named after Ever Bilena's brand of men's fragrances.

Blackwater Bossing
2024–25 Blackwater Bossing season
Founded	2014
History	Blackwater Elite (2014–2021) Blackwater Bossing (2021–present)
Team colors	Red, black, white
Company	Ever Bilena
Board governor	Silliman Sy
Team manager	Johnson Martinez Rhona Tibor (assistant)
Head coach	Jeffrey Cariaso
Ownership	Dioceldo S. Sy
Retired numbers	1 (11)
Light uniform Dark uniform

History

PBA D-League

Main article: Blackwater Sports

Blackwater was one of the founding teams in the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League). It won one PBA D-League championship. The team's predecessor was the Blu Detergent team^[1] in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), best known as the first Philippine basketball team of Asi Taulava.^[2]

PBA

On April 10, 2014, Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., along with Manila North Tollways Corporation (NLEX Road Warriors) and Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia Sorento), were approved by the PBA Board of Governors to become expansion teams in the PBA.^[3] Upon entry to the PBA, the three teams will select players from a dispersal draft in July consisting of unprotected current PBA players and free agents.^[4] They will also pick rookies in the 2014 PBA draft in August.^[5]

Blackwater and the NLEX Road Warriors became the first franchises to enter the PBA from its D-League.

With the help of Gilas player Marcus Douthit, Blackwater got their first win in the 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup against San Miguel Beermen, 80–77.

In August 2020, it was reported that the team would change its name to "Blackwater Bossing".^[6] The new branding, including the team's logo and jersey design, was unveiled in September 2020.^[7]

International stint

On July 12, 2018, Blackwater Elite completed a six-game sweep of the Pacific Caesar 50th Anniversary Pro Tournament in Surabaya, Indonesia.^[8]

The following week, they represented the Philippines along with NLEX Road Warriors in the Asia League's Summer Super 8 Invitational Tournament held in Macau.^[9]

Current roster

Blackwater Bossing roster

• v
• t
• e

Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 0 RK Ilagan 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1997–04–03 San Sebastian F/C 1 Abu Tratter 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1993–01–09 De La Salle G 2 Sedrick Barefield (R) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1996–11–18 Utah F/C 4 Prince Caperal 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1993–06–12 Arellano G/F 5 Jaydee Tungcab  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1997–05–05 Philippines G 6 JVee Casio 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1986–09–01 De La Salle F/C 8 Bradwyn Guinto 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1991–10–20 San Sebastian G/F 10 BJ Andrade 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1996–07–26 Ateneo F 12 Miguel Corteza (R) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 1998–02–23 St. Benilde C 13 Clifford Jopia 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) San Beda F 14 Troy Mallillin 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Ateneo G 15 Kib Montalbo (IN) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1996–04–02 De La Salle C 18 Justin Chua 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 232 lb (105 kg) 1989–07–13 Ateneo G 22 DJ Mitchell (R) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Hartford F 23 Richard Escoto 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 204 lb (93 kg) 1997–03–21 Far Eastern F 25 Christian David 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1998–06–19 Butler F/C 27 Jewel Ponferada (IN) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 211 lb (96 kg) 1988–07–08 National-U G 28 Mike Ayonayon 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1992–12–08 Philippine Christian F 33 Tyrus Hill (IN) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996–03–20 De La Salle	Head coach Jeffrey Cariaso Assistant coach(es) Joe Silva (1st assistant) Junjie Ablan Ryan Alba Patrick Aquino Mike Cortez Aries Dimaunahan Daniel Olan Team manager Johnson Martinez Rhona Tibor (assistant) Legend (C) Team captain (CI) Commissioner's Cup Import (GI) Governors' Cup Import (EI) EASL Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie Injured Roster

Players

Main article: Blackwater Bossing all-time roster

• Dylan Ababou (2016–2017)
• Val Acuña
• Raymond Aguilar (2016–2017)
• Jason Ballesteros (2014–2016)
• Raphael Banal (2016–present)
• Mac Belo (2016–present)
• Gilbert Bulawan (2014–2016)
• Niño Canaleta (2017–present)
• Jerick Cañada
• JR Cawaling
• Robby Celiz
• Reil Cervantes
• Mike Cortez
• Mark Cruz (2017–present)
• Arthur dela Cruz (2015–2017)
• J.P. Erram
• Bryan Faundo
• James Forrester (2016–2017)
• Riego Gamalinda
• Frank Golla (2016)
• Brian Heruela
• Carlo Lastimosa
• Eddie Laure
• Dave Marcelo (2017–present)
• Jason Melano
• Denok Miranda (2016–present)
• Alex Nuyles
• Bobby Ray Parks Jr.
• Kyle Pascual
• Tristan Perez (2016–2017)
• John Pinto (2016–2019)
• Raphael Reyes
• Larry Rodriguez
• Sunday Salvacion
• James Sena
• Roi Sumang
• Chris Timberlake
• Juami Tiongson
• Almond Vosotros

Imports

• Marcus Douthit (2015 Commissioner's) & (2015 Governors')
• Marcus Cousin (2015 Governors')
• M. J. Rhett (2016 Commissioner's)
• Eric Dawson (2016 Governors')
• Imad Qahwash (2016 Governors')
• Keala King (2016 Governors')
• Greg Smith (2017 Commissioner's) & (2019 Commissioner's)
• Trevis Simpson (2017 Governors')
• Henry Walker (2017 Governors'), (2018 Commissioner's) & (2018 Governors')
• Jarrid Famous (2018 Commissioner's)
• Alex Stepheson (2019 Commissioner's)
• Staphon Blair (2019 Commissioner's)
• Marqus Blakely (2019 Governors')
• Aaron Fuller (2019 Governors')
• Jaylen Bond (2021 Governors')
• Shawn Glover 2021 Governors' & (2023 Governors')
• Cameron Krutwig (2022–23 Commissioner's)
• Troy Williams (2023 Governors')
• Chris Ortiz (2023–24 Commissioner's)

Retired numbers

Blackwater Bossing retired number
N°	Player	Position	Tenure
11	Gilbert Bulawan	PF/ C	2014–2016[a]

• ^a  – The team retired his jersey number in his honor during Blackwater's first game in the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup versus the NLEX Road Warriors on July 16, 2016. He collapsed and died during the team's practice on July 3, 2016.^[10][11]

Coaches

1. Leo Isaac (2014–fired 2018)
2. Bong Ramos (2018–fired 2019)
3. Aries Dimaunahan (2019 as interim coach)
4. Nash Racela (2019–fired 2020)
5. Ariel Vanguardia (2021–2023 as interim coach)
6. Jeffrey Cariaso (2023–present)

Season-by-season records

Main article: List of Blackwater Bossing seasons

Records from the 2024–25 PBA season:

Conf.	Team name	Elimination round				Playoffs
		Finish	W	L	PCT	Stage	Results
GOV	Blackwater Bossing	5th in Group B	5	5	.500	Did not qualify
COM		11th/13	3	9	.250
PHI		TBD	TBD	TBD	–	TBD	TBD
Total elimination round			8	14	.364	0 Playoffs appearance
Total playoffs			TBD	TBD	–	0 Finals appearance
Total 2024–25			8	14	.364	0 Championship
Total franchise			74	211	.260	0 Championship

*one-game playoffs
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage

Awards

Individual awards

PBA Mythical Second Team
Poy Erram (2017-18)

PBA Press Corps Individual Awards

Defensive Player of the Year	All-Rookie Team
Poy Erram (2017-18)	Arthur dela Cruz (2015-16) Paul Zamar (2017-18) Ato Ular (2022-23)

All-Star Weekend

All - Star Selection
2016 Carlo Lastimosa 2017 Mac Belo 2018 Mac Belo Poy Erram Allein Maliksi 2019 Mac Belo 2024 James Yap

See also

• Blackwater Bossing draft history