Elite falter

MACAU – Blackwater bombed out of the competition after absorbing a 69-109 drubbing from Japan’s Chiba Jets in East Asia Super League Terrific 12 invitation tournament Wednesday night here at the Tap Seac-Multi-Sport Pavilion.

It was the second straight loss by the Elite in Group A to be the first PBA team to get eliminated in this 12-club tournament.

Chiba Jets and Seoul SK Knights, who beat Blackwater last Tuesday 93-77, will clash for the semifinals slot today.

“Just like yesterday, we started very, very flat and we paid dearly for it. We lost by 40 points. That goes to show we have a lot of things we need to work on going to our battle back home,” said Elite head coach Aries Dimaunahan, who drew 16 points from import Marqus Blakely.

“But we’re blessed to be here playing against the best in East Asia. We never lost. It’s all learning for us,” he added.

Alex Stepheson added 12 points and 11 rebounds while Diego Dario chipped in 10 for Blackwater, which again missed the services of Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Mike Digregorio, Mike Cortez and Rabeh Al-Hussaini due to injuries.

Michael Parker and Josh Duncan led the balanced attack of Chiba Jets with 22 and 20 markers, respectively.

After taking a 31-19 lead in the first period, Chiba Jets outscored the Elite to 31-6 in the second period to mold the rout.

Korea’s Jeonju KCC Egis stayed alive for the semifinals berth after edging Utsunomiya Brex of Japan, 79-78, in Group C to improve its record to 1-1.

Leon Williams tallied 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead the five-time Korea Basketball League champions, whose chance of making to the next round depends on the result of Brex and Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of China today.

The Lions, who defeated Egis, 88-67, can clinch the semis slot with a victory over the Japanese club today.