Blackwater acquires Soyud in time for PBA D-League playoffs

MANILA, Philippines — Aiming to bolster its line-up in time for the 2014 PBA D-League Foundation Cup quarterfinals, Blackwater has acquired sweet shooting big man Raul Soyud.

The Elite, which settled for third place at the end of elimination round, picked up Soyud just after the six-foot-five behemoth was released by also ran-Deluro Accelero on Tuesday.

Blackwater beat the league deadline, which was until the end of the elimination round, for player transactions.

Soyud joins Blackwater’s already talent-laden line up with the likes of Reil Cervantes, Kevin Ferrer, Gilbert Bulawan, Jericho Cruz, and Mark Cruz.

Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Elite square off with sixth-seed Bakers as the playoffs kick off on Thursday.

Blackwater nipped Café France, 69-67, last week.

“We expect to improve more in the playoffs and we are coming in with a positive mindset against (Café France),” head coach Leo Isaac said.

Blackwater Sports actually finished tied with Jumbo Plastic with a 6-3 record, but the Giants clinched no. 2 seed along with the outright semifinal berth by virtue of the winner over the other.

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