Cariaso: Every game is must-win

Games today: (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. — Blackwater vs TNT 6:15 p.m. — Meralco vs Rain or Shine

Blackwater has no plan of slowing down after posting its first win in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.

Bossing head coach Jeff Cariaso said every game is a must-win for them as they seek to win the title for the first time since joining the pro league as an expansion team in 2014.

After retooling their roster with the acquisition of veteran James Yap and gunner Rey Nambatac in the off-season, the Bossing kicked off their campaign in the season-opening conference with a sizzling 96-93 escape over Meralco last Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

While Yap provided the veteran stability, Nambatac put on a show, delivering 27 points and 10 assists for the Blackwater squad, which displayed tremendous poise down the stretch despite going 1-10 in the previous Commissioner’s Cup.

Cariaso said they are treating the eliminations as if it is the playoffs.

“The way we look at it, every game is a must-win game. It’s a playoff game. That’s how we approach it,” said Cariaso, whose wards will shoot for an early lead when it battles TNT Tropang Giga on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We wanna make sure that we will use the game to inspire us and motivate us even more. But we’re going to the TNT game with a mindset that they are a big fish that we have to handle.” But the Tropang Giga will be tough nuts to crack.

TNT is also looking to pull off a convincing win after flirting with disaster before booking a scary 108-107 win over Rain or Shine in the opener.

TNT coach Chot Reyes, who banked on the heroics of Calvin Oftana in the crucial stretch, admitted that it could have been a different story had the Elasto Painters converted most of their free throws.

“I think we were just lucky that Rain or Shine missed their free throws,” he said, noting Rain or Shine’s sour shooting at the foul line after going 18 out of 42.

“We gave way too many free throws. If Rain or Shine made half of the free throws that they missed, I think they would have won this ballgame easily.”

Reyes added that their goal is to be disciplined defensively. “I thought we had to go back and rework how we were defending and adjust to the way the referees are calling it,” he stated.

Cariaso, for his part, said beating TNT will not be easy, especially after veterans Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy and Jayson Castro are now blending seamlessly with new acquisition Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

“They have a new guy there that they traded for and he’s gonna be ready,” Cariaso said.

“So just prepare these next two days and make sure mentally we’re focused and give our best on Saturday.”