By Adrian Stewart Co

Blackwater Elite beat Columbian Dyip, 106-100, in their 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup game last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Allein Maliksi led the Elite with 29 points, six rebounds, and five assists; while Rey Mark Belo added 22 markers.

Holding to a slim 51-50 lead at the half, the Elite got it going in third period behind Shej Roi Sumang and Raphael Banal for a 60-54 lead. The Dyip rallied to within one but conversions from Maliksi further extended the Elite’s lead to 77-69.

The Dyip went on to tie the score at 78-78 early in the fourth but the Elite came up with shots from Belo, Maliksi, and Rabeh Al-Hussaini to increase their lead to 97-89 on a basket from Andres Paul Desiderio.

The Dyip made its last push to come within 100-98 on back-to-back triples but a basket from Belo, followed by free throws by Sumang and Desiderio, increased the Elite’s lead to 106-100./ASC, WDJ