Barefield, King join hands as Blackwater pounces on import-less Meralco for first win
At A Glance
- Sedrick Barefield and import George King provided a deadly one-two punch as Blackwater pounced on an import-less Meralco, 114-98, to notch its first win of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 12.
Sedrick Barefield and import George King provided a deadly one-two punch as Blackwater pounced on an import-less Meralco, 114-98, to notch its first win of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 12.

King and Barefield joined hands on a backbreaking 16-3 Bossing run in the final frame to finally pull away and barge into the win column after dropping their first two games of the mid-season conference.
The top rookie pick of the 2024 PBA drafted exploded for 33 points and nine assists while import King had 32 points and 14 rebounds in the contest where Blackwater led by as many as 16 in the final frame.
Christian David also had 17 and James Kwekuteye with 10 as Blackwater took advantage of the absence of Meralco’s supposed import stand-in DJ Kennedy who was also out-of-commissioned due to an injury.
Kennedy joined first import choice Akil Mitchell, who was also sidelined by a broken nose.
Still, the Bolts gave the Bossing a run for their money and even took an 86-85 lead early in the final frame before Barefield and King conspired and scored consecutive baskets to create the much-needed separation, 101-89.
Bong Quinto had 18 points and Chris Newsome finished with 14 but the Bolts never recovered from that fourth quarter rally from the Bossing, absorbing their first loss of the conference after winning their first three games.