Blackwater Elite
2017–18 Blackwater Elite season
History
Blackwater Elite (2014–present)
Joined PBA	2014
Team colors	Red, Black, White
Company	Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc.
Owner(s)	Dioceldo S. Sy
Board governor	Silliman Sy
Team manager	Joel Co
Head coach	Bong Ramos
Retired numbers	1 (11)
Championships
None
Uniforms
Light Dark

Blackwater Elite is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. that is playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise began as one of the founding teams in the PBA Developmental League. It transferred to the PBA after being accepted as an expansion team. The team is named after the Ever Bilena's brand of men's fragrances.

History[edit]

PBA D-League[edit]

Blackwater was one of the founding teams in the PBA Developmental League (PBA D-League). It won one PBA D-League championship. The team's predecessor was the Blu Detergent team^[1] in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), best known as the first Philippine basketball team of Asi Taulava.^[2]

PBA expansion franchise application[edit]

On April 10, 2014, Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., along with Manila North Tollways Corporation (NLEX Road Warriors) and Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia Sorento) were given approval by the PBA Board of Governors to become expansion teams in the PBA.^[3] Upon entry to the PBA, the three teams will select players from a dispersal draft in July consisting of unprotected current PBA players and free agents.^[4] They will also get to pick rookies in the 2014 PBA draft in August.^[5]

Blackwater and the NLEX Road Warriors became the first franchises to enter the PBA from its D-League.

First win in franchise history[edit]

With the help of Gilas player Marcus Douthit, Blackwater got their first win in 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup against San Miguel Beermen, 80-77.

International stint[edit]

On July 12, 2018, Blackwater Elite completed a six-game sweep of the Pacific Caesar 50th Anniversary Pro Tournament in Surabaya, Indonesia.^[6]

The following week, they represented the Philippines along with NLEX Road Warriors in the Asia League's Summer Super 8 Invitational Tournament held in Macau.^[7]

Current roster[edit]

Blackwater Elite roster v t e
Players	Coaches
Pos. # POB Name Height Weight DOB (YYYY–MM–DD) From G 5000000000000000000♠0 Cortez, Mike (C) 7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1980–10–11 De La Salle G 7000100000000000000♠1 DiGregorio, Michael 7000185420000000000♠6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1990–12–12 McKendree G 7000200000000000000♠2 Banal, Raphael 7000187960000000000♠6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1992–10–28 Hope International G 7000600000000000000♠6 Sumang, Roi 7000172720000000000♠5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 155 lb (70 kg) 1990–12–12 UE C 7000700000000000000♠7 Erram, John Paul 7000203200000000000♠6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 227 lb (103 kg) 1989–07–07 Ateneo G 7000800000000000000♠8 Zamar, Paul 7000177800000000000♠5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 1987–10–20 UE G 7000900000000000000♠9 Cruz, Mark 7000167640000000000♠5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1992–07–27 Letran G 7001100000000000000♠10 Pinto, John 7000177800000000000♠5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1990–10–15 Arellano F 7001120000000000000♠12 Belo, Mac 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1993–02–12 Far Eastern F 7001150000000000000♠15 Sena, James 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1988–08–31 José Rizal G 7001160000000000000♠16 Palma, Renz 7000182880000000000♠6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 1993–01–03 UE C 7001210000000000000♠21 Al-Hussaini, Rabeh 7000200659999999999♠6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1988–08–11 Ateneo G/F 7001220000000000000♠22 Maliksi, Allein 7000190500000000000♠6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1987–09–18 UST F 7001230000000000000♠23 Jose, Raymar 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1992–08–06 Far Eastern F/C 7001280000000000000♠28 Javier, Chris 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1992–12–06 UE F 7001410000000000000♠41 Neypes, Kyle 7000193040000000000♠6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) National-U	Head coach Bong Ramos Assistant coach(es) Aris Dimaunahan (1st Assistant) Junjie Ablan Patrick Aquino Joel Co Tylon Darjuan Benjie Sipin Vince Hizon (Consultant) Team manager Joel Co Legend (C) Team captain (I) Import (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended (R) Rookie Injured Roster

Depth chart[edit]

Other players[edit]

Retired numbers[edit]

• 
  ^a  – The team retired his jersey number in his honor during Blackwater's first game in the 2016 PBA Governors' Cup versus the NLEX Road Warriors on July 16, 2016. He collapsed and died during the team's practice on July 3, 2016.^[8][9]

Season-by-season records[edit]

Records from the 2016-17 PBA season:

*one-game playoffs
**team had the twice-to-beat advantage

See also[edit]

• Blackwater Elite draft history

References[edit]

^[1]