As the Blackwater Bossing gear up for the PBA Governors' Cup, they have opted for continuity by welcoming back two familiar faces: Kib Montalbo and veteran James Sena. While these signings signal the team's desire to stabilize their rotation, they also raise questions about the franchise's direction, particularly regarding their frontcourt hierarchy.
Kib Montalbo: The Defensive Spark
The return of Kib Montalbo is a logical move for a team looking to shore up its perimeter presence. Montalbo, 30, remains a highly capable defender who brings intensity to the backcourt. While he has been sidelined recently due to injury, his ability to provide reliable defense and steady, acceptable offensive production makes him a valuable depth piece for coach Pat Aquino. Provided he returns to full health, Montalbo is a player who clearly deserves his spot on an active PBA roster.
The James Sena Conundrum
In contrast, the signing of 37-year-old James Sena feels like a significant gamble. While coach Aquino values Sena’s ability to space the floor as a "big man who can shoot from the outside," his arrival follows the departure of two players who arguably offered more upside for the team's future.
The Frontcourt Void: The Bossing recently parted ways with both Bradwyn Guinto and Clifford Jopia.
The Opportunity Cost: Guinto’s proven inside scoring and Jopia’s raw, youthful size would have seemed like more natural fits for a team looking to compete in the paint.
A Questionable Direction: By choosing to utilize a veteran like Sena instead of developing younger, taller options, Blackwater faces a legitimate question mark regarding their interior production for the final conference of Season 50.
A Broader Transformation
Beyond these two signings, the Blackwater roster is undergoing a notable transition. The team has also brought in free agent Nick Demusis and extended the contract of veteran guard Mike Digregorio. Meanwhile, the exit of guards Paul Zamar, Camillus Altamirano, and BJ Andrade—the latter of whom has opted for a stint in a Hong Kong-based league—signals that the franchise is actively trimming its roster to reshape its identity.
For Blackwater, the Governors’ Cup will be a litmus test for whether their mix of veteran experience and defensive-minded guard play can generate enough efficiency to overcome the loss of their younger frontcourt assets. Coach Aquino is clearly banking on Sena’s versatility to stretch the floor, but whether that offsets the missing interior toughness remains to be seen.
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