At Blackwater, Cariaso starts with changing team’s culture

Troy Rosario (in white) hopes to lead Blackwater to a new era. —PBA IMAGES

Jeffrey Cariaso is in no rush to turn the fortunes of the Blackwater Bossing, the latest stop of his Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coaching career.

“I’m asking them to give me a little bit of room to give these guys what I know and share with them what I know. So far, that’s really been what’s happening,” said Cariaso, who was hired last April but only joined the team for the PBA On Tour last Sunday after completing personal engagements in the United States.

Blackwater is the fourth team Cariaso will handle as bench tactician, and probably his biggest task given the losing records the franchise has suffered for most of its PBA run.

Despite being in California, United States, for the early part of the exhibition tilt to hold a series of camps, Cariaso has kept a close eye on the team, albeit virtually, with assistant coach Joe Silva calling the shots.

The Bossing have won five of eight games in the On Tour, including Sunday’s 103-101 win over the San Miguel Beermen at FilOil Ecooil Centre in San Juan City with Cariaso sitting behind the bench.

“When I first saw them in April [before leaving for the United States], we had an impression of what you see,” Cariaso said. “What’s nice with what I’m seeing now even after only eight games is just the understanding of teamwork.

Regaining form

“We want to commit here to improve things. We don’t want to change it. We want to improve it. That’s really the goal. Culture-wise, we try to do things a little bit differently. We want to bring in a little bit of my flavor, a little bit of how I like things to be. So far, the team’s responding,” added Cariaso.

One player who is on the radar is Troy Rosario, who is using the exhibition games to regain the form that made him one of the league’s top big men until a rash of injuries limited his play upon being traded from TNT last season.

Rosario, who’s averaging 16 points and six rebounds in six games, has mentioned that developing a winning culture is something they’ll try to work on before the season starts in mid-October.

“We have a long way to go,” said Cariaso. “They’re still getting to know me as much as I’m getting to know them. Time will always be the reason for things.”

“Once we get more time under our belt, good things will happen, I think,” he added.

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