Blackwater return excites Aquino

Patrick Aquino is excited to rejoin Blackwater as assistant coach starting in the Philippine Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) next month.

Aquino, now an accomplished women’s team mentor, told DAILY TRIBUNE that he was in talks with Blackwater team owner Dioceldo Sy about the possibility of returning to help the Bossing advance to the playoffs.

Under head coach Jeffrey Cariaso, Blackwater suffered yet another dismal finish with only three wins in 12 games to miss the playoffs of the Commissioner’s Cup.

“Boss Dio invited me for lunch around two to three weeks ago because he wanted me to meet a visitor from Melbourne since he knows me and wanted to help out with the Gilas program. I asked if I could come back to Blackwater,” Aquino said in a telephone conversation.

“On my part as a coach, you always have to be sharp. He (Sy) said: If you want, I can ask the head coach (Jeffrey Cariaso).”

Aquino and Sy have been together for more than two decades. In fact, Aquino served as Sy’s team manager when the Ever Bilena franchise was still competing in the defunct Philippine Basketball League more than two decades ago.

When Blackwater entered the PBA in 2014, Aquino was part of the coaching staff of Leo Isaac. At the same time, Aquino coached the National University squad that made a historic run of 108 consecutive victories for a total of seven titles in the women’s division of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Aquino stepped down from the Bossing in 2023 to focus on his role as head coach of Gilas Women squad.

Now that he’s returning, Aquino will be helping Cariaso together with fellow deputies Aris Dimaunahan, Mike Cortez, and Joe Silva.

The 53-year-old mentor assured that this coaching stint won’t clash with Gilas Women’s preparation for the 2025 FIBA Women’s Asia Cup in Shenzhen, China from 13 to 20 July.

“The last time I was coaching was in August in Rwanda and maybe it’s time to make me a little bit sharper coming into the preparation for FIBA Asia. So, it’s not going to be a conflict or anything,” Aquino said.

“Boss Dio knows I have to be with Gilas so there won’t be any conflict in the schedule,” Aquino said.

“I’ll learn a lot from Coach Jeff, Coach Aris, and all those coaching staff that are here. The team itself that can help me out in my preparation for the upcoming FIBA Women’s Asia Cup.”