Former Arellano star Gio Ciriacruz broke the 68-all deadlock by hitting two clutch freethrows with 43.6 seconds left.

Pacific Pipes moved within 69-70 with a split but Ciriacruz later made two more from the foul line for a 72-69 lead with 5.3 ticks to go.

In the ensuing play, Rex Leynes appeared to have tied the game on a running bank shot from rainbow country with 1.3 seconds, but the shot was nullified after a game official ruled that the speedy guard stepped out of bounds when he made the attempt, thus ending the game on a bizarre note.

The win evened the record of Dioseldo Sy’s Elite to 1-1 as they bounced back from a 100-90 loss to Group A leader Pharex Naproxen Sodium last week.

“Malaking bagay ang panalo na ito kasi napatunayan namin na pwede kaming magcompete dito sa D-League,” Blackwater coach Leo Isaac, who used most of his past and present players from Arellano University and Mapua throughout the match.

In the second game, Cobra Energy Drink erupted for a 25-2 run to start the third quarter after a slim 38-36 halftime lead for an 86-73 rout of Junior Powerade.

The Ironmen, led by Paul Lee's 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals, grabbed the solo lead in Group B with a perfect 2-0 slate.

The Scores:

First Game

BLACKWATER 72 – Saret 13, Zulueta 12, Celada 11, Acidre 11, Ciriacruz 9, Belorio 9, Mazo 5, Lapuz 2, Caperal 0, Del Rosario 0.

RnW PACIFIC PIPES 69 – Leynes 13, Ilagan 11, Del Rio 11, Sabelina 9, Manuel 7, Melegrito 4, Musni 4, Viray 4, Importante 3, Lansang 3, Cornejo 0, Delgado 0, Guillermo 0, Ynion 0.

Quarters: 13-24; 33-36; 52-42; 72-69.

Second Game

COBRA 86 - Lee 22, Hermosisima 20, Acibar 18, Sanga 8, Foronda 4, Bandayang 4, Reyes 3, Riosipa 3, Baloran 2, Abaya 2.

POWERADE 73 - Smith 14, Padilla 14, Jeffries 12, Martinez 10, Sison 7, Gomez 6, Gamba 4, Gingrich 2, Ilad 2, Wong 2, Juruna 0, Maniego 0,

Quarters: 17-16; 38-36; 72-55; 86-73.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin