Blackwater spoils Kia's Pacquiao sendoff

Manny Pacquiao opted not to play after coming
in late for the match. PBA
By Josh Castro

SAN JUAN CITY--Blackwater handed Manny Pacquiao a defeat before he returns to the boxing ring to face Floyd Mayweather.

The Elite staved off an early 7-0 blitz by the Kia Carnival and walked away with a 115-104 victory in their PBA Commissioner's Cup showdown at the FilOil Flying V Arena on Saturday.

Blackwater immediately pulled away after taking the lead late in the first quarter and never looked back to post its second win in the said tournament while snapping Kia's two-game winning streak.

Brian Heruela, Marcus Douthit, and Sunday Salvacion combined for 73 points for the Elite, who survived a 49-point outing from P.J. Ramos.

Leo Avenido is the only other Carnival player in double figures with ten markers.

The PBA gave away free upper box tickets for the fans to wish Pacquiao good luck in his May 3 battle with Mayweather.

Pacquiao came in late for the match and claimed he got stuck in traffic along Ortigas Ave. He decided not to suit up and stay on the bench. His mother Dionesia also watched the game.

Box Scores:

Blackwater 115-Heruela 27, Douthit 24, Salvacion 22, Gamalinda 10, Laure 7, Reyes 6, Erram 6, Bulawan 6, Ballesteros 4, Faundo 2, Celiz 1

Kia 104-Ramos 49, Avenido 10, Cervantes 9, Bagatsing 9, Thiele 8, Revilla 8, Buensuceso 3, Cawaling 2, Dehesa 2, Pascual 2, Yee 2, Poligrates 0, Alvarez 0

Quarterscores: 29-21, 56-42, 83-69, 115-104