The Blackwater Bossing is a professional basketball team owned by Ever Bilena, Inc. that is playing in the

Philippine Basketball Association The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of twelve company-branded franchised teams. Founded in 1975, it is the first professional basketball league in Asia and is the se ...

(PBA) beginning in the 2014–2015 season. The franchise began as one of the founding teams in the

PBA Developmental League The PBA Developmental League, or PBA D-League, is the Philippine Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. History The PBA D-League was conceptualized after the collapse of the proposed merger between the Phil ...

. 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

PBA D-League The PBA Developmental League, or PBA D-League, is the Philippine Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. History The PBA D-League was conceptualized after the collapse of the proposed merger between the Philip ...

Blackwater was one of the founding teams in the

(PBA D-League). It won one PBA D-League championship. The team's predecessor was the Blu Detergent team in the

Philippine Basketball League The Philippine Basketball League (PBL) was a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league was composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars. History The PBL was formed on Ma ...

(PBL), best known as the first Philippine basketball team of

Asi Taulava Pauliasi Taulava (born March 2, 1973) is a Tongan-born Filipino professional basketball player for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He is the oldest active player in the league. Standing 6 ft 9 in (2. ...

PBA

On April 10, 2014, Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc., along with

Manila North Tollways Corporation NLEX Corporation (formerly Manila North Tollways Corporation) is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), a company owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (). It holds the concession rights to construct, operate and ma ...

( NLEX Road Warriors) and Columbian Autocar Corporation (

Kia Sorento The Kia Sorento ( ko, 기아 쏘렌토, translit=Gia Sorento) is a mid-size crossover SUV (formerly a body-on-frame SUV until 2009) produced since 2002 by South Korean manufacturer Kia. First generation (BL; 2002) 2002–2006 Debuted i ...

) were given approval by the PBA Board of Governors to become expansion teams in the PBA. 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. They will also get to pick rookies in the

2014 PBA draft The Gatorade 2014 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft was an event which allowed teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Midtown Atrium, Robinsons Place Manila on August 24, 2014. Draft lottery The l ...

in August. Blackwater and the NLEX Road Warriors became the first franchises to enter the PBA from its

D-League The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the National Basketball Association's (NBA) official minor league basketball organization. The league was known as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) from 2001 to 2005, and the NBA De ...

. With the help of Gilas player

Marcus Douthit Marcus Eugene Douthit (born April 15, 1980) is a Filipino-American former basketball player. He graduated from Providence College. After his stint with the Providence Friars, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2004 NBA draft. Born i ...

, Blackwater got their first win in 2015 PBA Commissioner's Cup against San Miguel Beermen, 80–77. In August 2020, it was reported that the team would be changing its name to "Blackwater Bossing". The new branding including the team's logo and jersey design was unveiled in September 2020.

International stint

On July 12, 2018, Blackwater Elite completed a six-game sweep of the Pacific Caesar 50th Anniversary Pro Tournament in Surabaya, Indonesia. The following week, they represented the

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

along with NLEX Road Warriors in the Asia League's Summer Super 8 Invitational Tournament held in

Macau Macau or Macao (; ; ; ), officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (MSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China in the western Pearl River Delta by the South China Sea. With a p ...

Current roster

Players

Dylan Ababou Dylan Simon Rosales Ababou (born December 7, 1986) is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He played for seven teams during his career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafted 10th overall in 2011 by the Barako ...

(2016–

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...

) * Val Acuña *

Raymond Aguilar Raymond is a male given name. It was borrowed into English from French (older French spellings were Reimund and Raimund, whereas the modern English and French spellings are identical). It originated as the Germanic ᚱᚨᚷᛁᚾᛗᚢᚾᛞ ( ...

(2016–

) *

Jason Ballesteros Jason Ballesteros (born October 7, 1985) is a Filipino professional basketball player for Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan of the Pilipinas Super League. He was drafted seventh by the Meralco Bolts in the 2011 PBA draft. He has also played for Smart ...

(2014–2016) * Raphael Banal (2016–present) *

Mac Belo Rey Mark G. "Mac" Belo (born February 12, 1993) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Early life Hailing from Midsayap, Cotabato, Belo was born on February 12, 1993. ...

(2016–present) *

Gilbert Bulawan Gilbert Domingo Bulawan (August 25, 1986 – July 3, 2016) was a Filipino professional basketball player who played for the Meralco Bolts, Barako Bull Energy Cola and Blackwater Elite of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was drafte ...

(2014–2016) *

Niño Canaleta Rommel Niño T. "KG" Canaleta (born February 12, 1982) is a Filipino professional basketball coach. He is currently the assistant coach for the Taichung Suns of the T1 League. He is also a former basketball player who played majority of his care ...

(

–present) * Jerick Cañada *

JR Cawaling Ricardo "JR" Cawaling Jr. (born August 15, 1987) is a Filipino professional basketball player for Zamboanga Valientes of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL). He was drafted 30th overall by the San Mig Coffee Mixers in the 2013 PBA draft. He is k ...

* Robby Celiz *

Reil Cervantes Reil T. Cervantes (born August 16, 1986) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Batang Kankaloo – Caloocan of the Pilipinas Super League. He was drafted 9th by Barangay Ginebra Kings in the 2011 PBA draft. In 2014, Cervantes was ...

Mike Cortez Mike Salonga Cortez (born November 10, 1980) is a Filipino-American former professional basketball player. He last played for the Blackwater Elite of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for ...

* Mark Cruz (

–present) *

Arthur dela Cruz Arthur A. Dela Cruz Jr. (born May 9, 1992) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the NorthPort Batang Pier of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Early life and high-school career Dela Cruz started playing basketball when he ...

( 2015–

) * J.P. Erram *

Bryan Faundo Bryan C. Faundo (born February 18, 1984) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Boracay Islanders of the Pilipinas Super League. College career In the NCAA, he was one of the key players for the Letran Knights that helped the tea ...

* James Forrester (2016–

) * Riego Gamalinda * Frank Golla (2016) *

Brian Heruela Quinton Brian Heruela (born April 13, 1989) is a Filipino-American basketball player for the TNT Tropang Giga of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was the 26th pick in the 2014 PBA draft by Blackwater. College and amateur career ...

* Carlo Lastimosa *

Eddie Laure Eddie Bicoy Laure (born July 6, 1977) is a Filipino former professional basketball player and politician. Known by many as The Dominator and more recently, The Bounty Hunter for his daring and stunning ability to search and get loose balls on t ...

* Dave Marcelo (

–present) * Jason Melano *

Denok Miranda Dennis Ellera "Denok" Miranda (born July 14, 1982), is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Laguna Heroes of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted third overall by Coca-Cola Tigers, Coca-Co ...

(2016–present) *

Alex Nuyles Alexander Nuyles (born July 25, 1989) is a Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Bicol Volcanoes of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted 9th overall by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the ...

Bobby Ray Parks Jr. Bobby Ray Barbosa Parks Jr. (born February 19, 1993) is a Filipino-American professional basketball player for Nagoya Diamond Dolphins of the Japanese B.League. A 6'4" Guard (basketball), guard, he played college basketball for the NU Bulldogs f ...

Kyle Pascual Kyle Nicholas Pacana Pascual (born April 13, 1990) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Meralco Bolts of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). College career Pascual is one of the few players to win a championship in all ...

* Tristan Perez (2016–present) * (2016–2019) *

Raphael Reyes Raphael Carlo "Raphy" Reyes is a Filipino professional basketball player for Bicol Volcanoes of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He is a former UE Red Warrior and the point guard for the Big Chill Super Chargers in the PBA D-Le ...

* Larry Rodriguez * Sunday Salvacion * James Sena * Shej Roi Sumang *

Chris Timberlake Chris Timberlake (born April 28, 1985) is a Filipino-American former basketball player who last played for the Blackwater Elite of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He was selected 7th overall in the 2009 PBA draft by the Barangay Gin ...

Juami Tiongson Juan Miguel B. "Juami" Tiongson (born February 5, 1991) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Terrafirma Dyip of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Tiongson was drafted by the Blackwater Elite twelfth overall in the 2014 ...

* Almond Vosotros

Imports

* Eric Dawson (2016) * Imad Qahwash (2016) * Trevis Simpson (

) * Greg Smith (

) * Henry Walker (

)

Retired numbers

* – The team retired his

jersey number In team sports, the number, often referred to as the uniform number, squad number, jersey number, shirt number, sweater number, or similar (with such naming differences varying by sport and region) is the number worn on a player's uniform, to ...

in his honor during Blackwater's first game in the

2016 PBA Governors' Cup The 2016 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors' Cup, also known as the 2016 Oppo-PBA Governors' Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the third and last conference of the 2015–16 PBA season. Due to the preparations of the Philippines m ...

versus the NLEX Road Warriors on July 16, 2016. He collapsed and died during the team's practice on July 3, 2016.Blackwater gives tribute to late player Gilbert Bulawan after retiring jersey no.11
Gerry Ramos, SPIN.ph, July 16, 2016

Coaches

Leo Isaac Leandro "Leo" Isaac (born February 2, 1961) is a Filipino former basketball player, commentator and former head coach of the Blackwater Elite in the Philippine Basketball Association. College career He played for the Mapua Cardinals in the NC ...

(2014–fired 2018) #

Bong Ramos Geraldo "Bong" Ramos (born January 20, 1961) is a Filipino people, Filipino professional basketball coach of the Philippine Basketball Association. He had previously coached teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), ASEAN Basketball ...

(2018–fired 2019) #

Aries Dimaunahan Aristeo "Aries" Dimaunahan (born March 21, 1978) is a Filipino former professional basketball player who is the assistant coach of the Blackwater Bossing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and is the currently the head coach of the ...

(2019 as interim coach) # Nash Racela (2019–fired 2020) #

Ariel Vanguardia Ariel Vanguardia (born September 29, 1972) is a Filipino professional basketball coach. He is the interim head coach for the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Coaching career Vanguardia previously coached the W ...

(2020–2021 as interim coach)

Season-by-season records

:''Records from the

2022–23 PBA season The 2022–23 PBA season or PBA Season 47 is the 47th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. For the first time in two seasons, the league will return to its regular three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Com ...

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

References

{{PBA 2014 establishments in the Philippines Basketball teams established in 2014