RK Ilagan sat out Blackwater’s last two matches in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup. His return is expected to boost the Bossing’s chances of breaking out of slump.
RK Ilagan makes his much-awaited return as the Blackwater Bossing seek to end their three-game losing streak when they face the Titan Ultra Giant Risers in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Match begins at 5:15 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: JB Bahio bucks fever, drops career-best 23 in NLEX win vs Bossing]
The Bossing (1–3) are eager to get back on track after falling short in a 99–88 loss to NLEX.
Despite clawing back from 15 points down, Blackwater ran out of steam late in the game. Sedrick Barefield led the charge with 19 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while rookie Dalph Panopio added 12 points, five boards, and two assists in a solid showing.
Now, the return of Ilagan — who missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury — is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the Bossing’s backcourt firepower. The sharpshooting guard’s perimeter threat and veteran presence could be the key to stabilizing Blackwater’s offense as they try to stop the skid.
Meanwhile, Titan Ultra (1–4) is also desperate to break out of its slump after a heartbreaking 112–111 loss to Rain or Shine. Calvin Abueva erupted for 31 points and 18 rebounds in that defeat.
Both squads are hungry for a bounce-back win, but with Ilagan’s return and the Bossing looking to regain rhythm, Blackwater aims to finally turn its fortunes around.
[ALSO READ: Rey Nambatac is PBA Player of the Week after finishing TNT's comeback vs Meralco]
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
—
[Editor’s note: This article was written by a member of One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then reviewed by editorial staff for accuracy.]