Let’s call it like it is. The Blackwater Bossing are one of the afterthought teams in the PBA. They have been in the league since 2014 and have yet to reach the semifinals stage. That’s a total of 23 conferences and only six playoff appearances, bounced in the first round each time.

The franchise’s record throughout that stretch? An abominable 64 wins and 190 losses, which translates to a winning percentage of 25.2%. To be fair, it always feels like they are on the verge of rising – until bizarre trades always get in the way.

For the nth time, Blackwater is currently in that phase yet again, so it felt like having ex-NBA cager Ricky Ledo as import for the 2024 Governor’s Cup is just the extra boost they needed.

Welp. Wrong. Ricky Ledo stunk it up – worse than anyone could have probably imagined. He lasted two games, averaging a measly 9.0 points per game on a horrific 15.8% shooting (6-of-38 FGs). It greatly drove the team into two one-sided defeats: 110-97 vs. the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and 104-87 vs. the NLEX Road Warriors. He was so bad that the team elected not to have an import for its third game, which they effectively lost too, 128-108, against the San Miguel Beermen.

The good thing now is it has led the Bossing into something interesting: George King.

Like Ledo, the 30-year-old had a short stint in the NBA and has roamed around the globe to play hoops. As a huge contrast, though, his body language means business; he came to play and wasted no time imposing his will.

King debuted last August 30th against the talented and fan-favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. With not much expectations, he busted through the gates and tossed his weight around. Through inside-out attack and some muscle, he finished with anm all-around 33 points, 19 rebounds, four assists, and four steals on 12-of-23 shooting, including three three-pointers and a pair of four-pointers.

King not only established himself a serious threat, he also left Ginebra and its fans in awe, especially since both were expecting a cakewalk against a winless opponent with a new import. Blackwater got the W, 95-88.

With some thinking that it’s one of those fluke performances, King immediately topped it in his second outing. This past Wednesday, September 3rd, he had the hapless Phoenix Fuel Masters at his mercy as he went for 44 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists on 12-of-24 shooting from the floor (1/5 from 3, 2/4 from 4) and 15-of-18 from the charity stripe. Blackwater won 123-111.

The best part of this is the new-found weapon has generated a healthy amount of confidence for the team. It’s an intriguing core with big men Troy Rosario and Christian David, plus athletic swingmen James Kwekuteye and Sedrick Barefield, who’s also the squad’s electric rookie.

The surge seems to have rubbed off Barefield the best, as seen in his 32-point night vs. PHX, which superbly complemented King’s high-scoring outburst. They are now a developing duo that’s one to watch out for,

‘Blackwater’s next game will be Friday, September 6th, a rematch against NLEX. King and company should be eager to get that win back.