Blackwater were forced to play with an all-local crew versus NorthPort on Saturday as Jameel McKay has yet to complete his documents, team manager Pat Aquino told Tiebreaker Times.
McKay is with the Elite at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, though,
McKay previously played for Phoenix Pulse in 2017. He is the team’s replacement for Alex Stepheson, who left the country and is not expected to come back after suffering a stomach ailment.
Saturday marked the second straight game that Blackwater played without a foreign reinforcement. They played San Miguel last June 14 without Stepheson, and they lost badly, 106-127.
Stepheson was the Elite’s original import for the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup. He averaged 22.2 points, 22.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks before leaving and led the team to a 4-1 start in the conference.
Meanwhile, McKay will likely have his debut on July 5, when Blackwater take on the Magnolia Hotshots.
