The Blackwater Elite has closed in on booking a trip to the Asia League Summer Super 8 semifinals after clobbering Japan B.League’s Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka, 90-66, Thursday at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
The Elite have went back on track following their 69-88 defeat to CBA team Guangzhou Long Lions yesterday and have improved to 2-1. Their semis fate lies in the result of Guangzhou’s meeting with Seoul Samsung Thunders later.
A win by the Long Lions will help the Elite clinch a semis slot.
Raymar Jose top-billed for the PBA ball club with 18 points and nine rebounds. Nard Pinto filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, six boards, and four assists, while Paul Zamar was a carom shy of a double-double with 10 and nine.
The Elite started to make it a one-sided affair in the second frame. Down by just a field goal, 26-28, Blackwater turned on the jets and zoomed to 16 straight points to build a high 14-point wall, 42-28, with 3:54 remaining.
The Japanese ball club managed to trim the deficit to just six in the third canto, but Blackwater restored order immediately. The Elite’s lead ballooned to as huge as 26 thanks to Chris Javier, 86-60, with 1:21 left in the game.
Mike DiGregorio chipped in 10 markers spiked by two treys in the win.
Kazuya Hatano led Fukuoka with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Daisuke Kobayashi produced 14 points as well, while Takuya Komoda supplied 11 markers.
The Scores:
Blackwater 90 – Jose 18, Pinto 15, Sumang 11, DiGregorio 10, Zamar 10, Banal 8, Erram 7, Javier 6, Belo 2, Maliksi 2, Palma 1.
Fukuoka 66 – Hatano 14, Kobayashi 14, Komoda 11, Kanou 9, You 7, Tsuyama 6, Yamashita 5, Ishitani 0.
Quarterscores: 19-18, 45-38, 66-55, 90-66.
