Hot Barefield helps Bossing stun Hotshots

Sedrick Barefield was lights out from the three-point area to fuel Blackwater to a 97-91 come-from-behind victory over Magnolia for its first win in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

Barefield nailed six three-pointers, including three straight in a decisive 20-9 fourth quarter barrage that turned the tide, as the Bossing, parading a new import, finally barged into the win column after three tries.

The Blackwater guard scored 16 of his 26-point outburst in the fourth quarter to complement the near triple-double debut of import Robert Upshaw III of 35 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.

Barefield shot 8-of-16 from the field while Upshaw had 13-of-22 shooting clip including 3-of-6 from the four-point area.

Down by 11 points in the third period, Barefield and Upshaw, who replaced injured Daniel Ochefu, connived to keep the Bossing in the game before anchoring a huge fourth quarter rally.

“In the past we haven’t done the work down the stretch but tonight we did a good job at that,” Barefield said of the Bossing’s first win of the conference that ended their 12-game losing skid dating back to the season-opening Philippine Cup.

Barefield knocked down a trey for an 87-81 lead by Blackwater with 1:59 left to cap the stunning run. Upshaw sank a four-pointer — his last of three long-range bombs — followed by a pair of free throws by Abu Tratter that kept the Bossing at a safe distance, 93-86.

Hotshots import Noni Omut brought their deficit to four with just 16.6 seconds left before Barefield sealed Blackwater’s win with two charities two seconds after.

David Murrell had nine points and Tratter scored eight for Blackwater, which once again ended a long skid at the expense of Magnolia since halting a 29-game skid in 2022.

The Bossing trailed the Hotshots, 68-57, with over two minutes left in the third quarter before unleashing a 10-2 run courtesy of back-to-back Barefield triples between Upshaw’s four-pointer.

Blackwater entered the fourth period trailing by five.

Omut finished with 38 points, nine assists and seven rebounds but also turned the ball over six times in Magnolia’s third straight defeat in as many starts.

Zav Lucero scored 15 and Ian Sangalang had 12 points in a losing cause.