Blackwater Bossing head coach Jeffrey Cariaso knows what it feels like to start over. As the PBA’s 50th season tips off Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Cariaso’s voice carries both hunger and humility—two things his young squad desperately needs.
“Excited, of course. Looking forward to a better season,” Cariaso said, his tone calm but deliberate. “First goal is to make the playoffs. We’ve fallen short for three straight conferences, and that has to change.”
After a rocky run in 2024, Blackwater is eager to shake off its underdog tag and finally break through the eliminations barrier. Cariaso believes this could be that conference—where things start to click, and the team’s hard lessons finally bear fruit.
The Bossing may not boast superstar firepower, but they’ve quietly built a balanced, hardworking unit. The addition of veterans Paul Zamar, Jed Mendoza, and David Murrell injects experience, while rookies Dalph Panopio and Jack Cruz-Dumont bring youthful energy. Cariaso said the team’s chemistry has been “surprisingly strong” even in the early stages.
“Honestly, with the addition of the new players, feeling ko mas close ang unit na ito,” he shared. “Maganda ‘yung teamwork, maganda samahan. I’m really happy with that.”
With frontline depth anchored by Abu Tratter, Bradwyn Guinto, and versatile forward Christian David, the Bossing appear better equipped to handle the grind of a long season. Still, they’ll be missing big men Ximone Sandagon and James Una, who remain tied to other commitments.
One player expected to shoulder a heavier load is Sedrick Barefield, last year’s top-scoring rookie at 18.4 points per game. Despite missing several games due to injuries, the Fil-Am guard’s dynamic playmaking remains crucial to Blackwater’s offense. Cariaso confirmed Barefield is nursing a sore shoulder but is cleared to suit up.
“Hopefully our training and preparations will be enough to keep everyone consistent,” the coach added.
Opposite them, Terrafirma Dyip—now under rookie head coach Ronald Tubid—is taking a pragmatic approach. “We can’t promise anything, but we’ll compete,” Tubid said during Media Day. “If we compete hard, the wins will follow.”
However, Terrafirma faces early challenges as 6’9 Geoff Chiu and 6’7 Kemark Carino remain unavailable. Chiu is finishing commitments elsewhere, while Carino continues to recover from an ACL injury.
Cariaso knows opening games can set the tone for an entire campaign. “Terrafirma will fight hard. First game pa lang, siyempre excited din sila,” he said. “But we also know how important it is to start right. We’re hoping to do that this time.”
For Blackwater, this isn’t just another season opener—it’s a chance to finally turn potential into proof. The hunger is real, the chemistry is forming, and for Jeffrey Cariaso, the climb back to relevance begins now.