Blackwater, NLEX Set Championship Clash in Kadayawan Invitational

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by Lou Reyes

Blackwater's RK Ilagan (left) and NLEX's Rober Bolick will face off in the finals of the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational.
Blackwater's RK Ilagan (left) and NLEX's Rober Bolick will face off in the finals of the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational. Photo: PBA Images.

Davao City — The stage is set for a title showdown between Blackwater and NLEX in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament after both teams triumphed in their respective semifinal assignments on Saturday at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Gym.

Blackwater kept its unbeaten run alive with a nail-biting 93-91 victory over Converge, wrapping up the group phase at 3-0. NLEX, meanwhile, booked its place in the finals by outlasting Phoenix, 100-96, to finish with a 2-1 record. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m., also at the USEP Gym.

Sedrick Barefield spearheaded the Bossing’s balanced attack, delivering 26 points and seven boards. RK Ilagan also came up big with a near triple-double performance of 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Blackwater controlled large stretches of the game and at one point built a 13-point cushion before Converge rallied late.

Blackwater's RK Ilagan.
Blackwater's RK Ilagan. Photo: Madayaw Sports.

On the other end, Robert Bolick powered the Road Warriors to victory with a 27-point eruption, including a red-hot 5-of-9 shooting clip from beyond the arc. JB Bahio added steady inside presence, tallying 16 points and eight rebounds as NLEX held off Phoenix in the final minutes.

NLEX's Robert Bolick.
NLEX's Robert Bolick. Photo: PBA Images.

Sunday’s championship tilt also doubles as a rematch between the two squads. Blackwater had already beaten NLEX, 95-90, in their group-stage encounter last Friday after clawing back from a 17-point deficit. The Road Warriors are eager to return the favor with silverware at stake.

Converge (1-2) and Phoenix (0-3) will battle in the third-place playoff earlier in the day at 5 p.m. Alec Stockton led Converge in its loss to Blackwater with 19 points, while Justin Arana chipped in 14. For Phoenix, Tyler Tio scored 14 markers and Raffy Verano added 12 in their close defeat to NLEX.

With the Bossing aiming to complete a clean sweep and the Road Warriors seeking redemption, the Kadayawan Invitational finale promises to be a fitting conclusion to the weeklong tournament that has drawn strong support from Davao’s basketball community.