The Blackwater Elite have re-hired the services of import Alex Stepheson for their campaign in the East Asia Super League-hosted The Terrific 12 from September 17-22 in Macau.
Team manager Patrick Aquino confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times, Wednesday.
This will be a reunion between the Elite and Stepheson after the 6-foot-10 center left the team midway into their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign due to a stomach ailment.
Stepheson averaged 22.2 points, 22.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks as he guided the Elite to a 5-1 record.
Blackwater struggled after his departure, bringing in Jameel McKay but replacing him soon after with Staphon Blair. Blair then helped the Elite lock the third seed in the mid-season joust.
The team brought in Greg Smith for the quarterfinals, but lost to Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in Game Three.
Aquino said that they decided to bring in Stepheson for the week-long tilt not only because of his chemistry with the locals, but also to prove that they have no ill feelings toward him.
“We want to show Alex that we don’t have any ill feelings with him when he left, and maybe he can help us again in the Terrific 12 campaign,” said the amiable team executive.
Besides Stepheson, Blackwater have also tapped the services of Aaron Fuller as their second import for the tourney.
The 6-foot-5 forward played for the NLEX Road Warriors in the last two Governors’ Cups, including the 2018 edition where he came in to replace the then-injured Olu Ashaolu.
