KIA shakes off Blackwater in double OT

MANILA, Philippines — KIA Carnival wriggled free from a tight game against Blackwater Elite and won in double overtime, 83-76, in the 2015 PBA Governors’ Cup on Tuesday, May 26 at the Cuneta Astrodome. 

After sloppy play in overtime, KIA managed to create some separation in the second extension sparked by a Hamady N’Diaye go-ahead potential three-point play. While he failed to knock down the bonus, Alex Nuyles split from the line for a narrow but comfortable KIA 77-74 edge with 2:49 left.

N’Diaye delivered once again with an emphatic throwdown to knock the wind out of Blackwater, 79-76, with 1:35 remaining. Karl Dehesa converted a pair of charities with 14 seconds to go to seal the win.

“It was a very hard game. It’s about the effort, the willingness to win,” said assistant coach Chito Victolero, who captained the Carnival in the absence of playing coach Manny Pacquiao.  

“I told my players it’s not the X and O right now, in double overtime, it’s about their heart. I’m very proud of my players because they did not give up. They really wanted to win.” 

Asian import Jet Chang led the way with 25 points, 4 assists and 6 rebounds but was scoreless in both overtimes.  

Victolero had import N’Diaye take over, however, as the Senegalese posted a near-triple double of 16 markers, 23 rebounds and 9 blocks. He scored 4 of the Carnival’s 9 second overtime points.

Guard LA Revilla finished with 10 points and 3 assists as he fouled out with 52.4 seconds left in regulation.

Blackwater’s spry playmaker Brian Heruela topscored with 19 points and 3 assists. 

Import Marcus Douthit registered 16 points, 16 boards, 6 assists and 4 blocks. 

It was another character win for KIA, which just last week overcame NLEX with Hyram Bagatsing’s game-winning triple.

“Ang maganda lang (What’s good) is we have that mental toughness right now,” said Victolero, as his team climbed to 3-1 and are tied for second place in the standings. 

“Because of our last 3 games it gave us our confidence now in a close game.”

The Carnival, which hauled a franchise-best 70 rebounds, led by as much as 15 points early in the second before the Elite rallied back and entered the fourth up by 52-50.

Both squads exchanged baskets towards the end of regulation with Bagatsing nailing the potential dagger jumper with 27.8 ticks left. But Heruela answered right back with a strong lay-up to knot the game at 72-all.

There wasn’t much progress in the first overtime for Blackwater and KIA as the two teams combined for just 4 points in 5 minutes of play.

Blackwater, which looked disoriented as they scrambled to make endgame baskets, dropped their fourth game in 5 outings.

Last sequence to end regulation for KIA vs Blackwater #pba2015 pic.twitter.com/WWGqQHyvAc

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) May 26, 2015

– Rappler.com