Blackwater has sent a strong statement to the rest of the field after scoring back-to-back wins over title contenders for a rousing start in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Governors’ Cup.

Jumping to a share of the lead in Group B, the Bossing are getting attention with their early surprise.

“I think it’s about time that you take a look at Blackwater. That’s our motto right now,” Blackwater head coach Pat Aquino said.

The Bossing stunned Magnolia, 89-81, last Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium for their second straight win in as many outings.

It came at the heels of a morale-boosting 131-108 beating of Rain or Shine to open Blackwater’s campaign in the season-ending conference.

Behind his squad’s collective team effort and the steady production of import Kentrell Barkley, the Bossing are just one victory away from tying their franchise-best start achieved during the 2024 Philippine Cup.

Against the Hotshots, Barkley dropped 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds with plenty of help from the local crew.

RK Ilagan had another stellar performance with 20 points, Dalph Panopio had 12 while Sedrick Barefield finished with 10.

Aquino admitted that winning two games isn’t an assurance that Blackwater has already turned its fortunes around.

But it’s a positive start considering that the Bossing are in what Aquino called the ”‘group of death.”

Blackwater got through the Elasto Painters and the Hotshots in their initial meetings in the double-round robin stage, but it will still have to take on co-leader Phoenix, Meralco and Barangay Ginebra.

“I think we’re in a group of death. All tough teams, all champion teams,” Aquino said.

In fact, the Bossing will be squaring off against the 2024 All-Filipino champion Bolts on Tuesday.

“We try to compete with all of them,” he added.

“With the players buying in with what we’re doing, I guess we’ll start preparing well all the time.”

Aquino has also been preaching patience to the team that he took over from Jeff Cariaso midway into the Commissioner’s Cup.

The Bossing showed great resolve after Magnolia took an 81-79 advantage with 3:58 left when Barkley scored eight of Blackwater’s last 10 points in the escape.

“I know I’ve said in the huddle that no frustration. I know sometimes that we’re not going to get our shot, we’re not going to play that good defense. But you know, just continue playing on and just happy with the way we played today,” Aquino said.

After Meralco, the Bossing will play Ginebra next Sunday before an end of first round collision course with Phoenix on 28 July.

“My players are having fun. That’s what happened at the dugout earlier. Let’s have fun and play as hard as we can,” Aquino said.