Blackwater pounds Talk N Text in OT

Games tomorrow (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – Alaska vs TNT KaTropa 6:45 p.m. – North Port vs Phoenix

Blackwater wore down TNT KaTropa in overtime last night, 104-98, for an auspicious debut in the PBA Governors Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Elite relied on the one-two punch of Allein Maliksi and John Pinto in the extra period and a solid game from import Henry Walker to pull off the win.

Maliksi found his mark early and scored nine points in overtime where Pinto had two triples, the second one giving Blackwater a 97-89 lead with 2:14 left.

Pinto’s three-pointer capped an 11-3 run at the start of overtime. It had the entire Blackwater bench celebrating, and team owner Dioceldo Sy raising his fist.

The KaTropa took an 86-82 lead with 1:39 left in regulation but allowed the Elite to crawl back and send the game into overtime, 86-86.

Pepperdine University standout Stacy Davis finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds despite a poor 9-of-26 shooting.

In the second game, 35-yearold NBA veteran Mike Harris carried Alaska past Meralco, 80-72. The Aces joined three other teams at 1-0 while the Bolts dropped to 1-2.

Notes: San Miguel Beer superstar June Mar Fajardo has suffered a stress fracture on his right shin, and will be sidelined six to eight weeks... Fajardo’s injury will also keep him out of the Gilas lineup for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, and greatly affect his bid for a fifth straight MVP title. First Game Blackwater 104 – Maliksi 28, Walker 23, Al-Hussaini 13, Pinto 12, Digregorio 8, Belo 6, Cortez 5, Jose 5, Zamar 2, Javier 2, Sena 0, Palma 0, Banal 0.

TNT 98 – Romeo 24, Davis 23, Castro 20, Pogoy 11, Garcia 5, Semerad 4, Golla 3, Williams 2, Carey 2, Rosario 2, Cruz 2.

Quarterscores: 21-18, 38-38, 62-63, 8686, 104-98. Second Game Alaska 80 – Harris 23, Banchero 13, Enciso 11, Manuel 10, Baclao 6, Exciminiano 5, Racal 5, Galliguez 3, Pascual 2, Teng 2, Casio 0.

Meralco 72 – Durham 21, Newsome 14, Amer 13, De Ocampo 8, Caram 6, Salva 5, Canaleta 3, Hodge 2, Lanete 0, Hugnatan 0, Tolomia 0.

Quarterscores: 18-22, 33-40, 61-50, 80-72