BLACKWATER is looking good this season and playing much better than last year.

Once the team that posted the worst record by registering the longest losing skid in PBA history at 29 straight games, the Bossing have won four of their last five games, including their one and only victory at the end of the last season’s Governors’ Cup elims.

The Bossing are now sitting at the No. 3 spot of the tournament and will have a chance to move a notch higher and join Barangay Ginebra in second place with a win against the Meralco Bolts today in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Blackwater and Meralco slug it out at 5:15 p.m. right before the main game between the NLEX Road Warriors and the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters at 7:15 p.m.

According to Bossing head coach Ariel Vanguardia, the transformation of the squad had something to do with the key acquisitions they made in the off-season.

From free agency, they were able to get Rey Publico and James Sena, two players who were left unsigned by their previous mother squads. Now, they provide stability up front coming off the Blackwater bench.

In the recent Rookie Draft, the Bossing were able to add players they considered a good fit.

Mark Dyke was selected late in the first round at No. 11 and silently, but effectively, doing his share for the Bossing while Ato Ular, their top pick in the second round, has turned out to be a revelation.

The hardworking, 6-foot-3 forward has been outshining draft picks selected ahead of him.

In four games so far, Ular averaged 13.3 points on a steady 58.1 shooting from the field while pulling down 5.3 rebounds per game.

There’s also Yousef Taha, who turned out to be a gem acquisition for the Bossing as the 6-foot-8 center they picked up from Converge in a trade with rookie Kurt Lojera, has become an all-around performer. He’s been providing the inside points while making his teammates look good with his passing skills.

A proud journeyman, Taha is averaging 10.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game with Blackwater.

Ironically, Blackwater has been enjoying early success even without top overall rookie pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

The younger brother of Matt Ganuelas-Rosser dislocated his finger prior to the start of the season and has yet to see action in the PBA.

Vanguardia is waiting for the right opportunity to break in the 6-foot-7 athletic center/forward, who led the Limitless Appmasters to win the inaugural staging championship of the PBA 3x3 tournament.

The Bolts, on the other hand, have lost their previous game against the Road Warriors. They are looking to snare their fourth victory in six games today.