Marcus Douthit. PBA IMAGES
Just when everyone thought that Blackwater finally got everything figured out, fellow expansion team Kia just sent them crashing back down to earth.
Ten days separated from their huge breakthrough win at the expense of Ginebra in Dipolog City, the Elite lost a double-overtime heartbreaker against the Carnival, 84-76, Tuesday night that sent them sprawling once again at the cellar with a 1-4 slate.
Coach Leo Isaac and Marcus Douthit both declined interviews on the heels of Blackwater’s latest defeat, obviously devastated with how their efforts proved to be futile in the end.
Brian Heruela had a chance to win the game in regulation after Eddie Laure successfully stripped Jet Chang on his late-game drive, but the Cebuano guard muffed a chance as the Kia defense collapsed on him.
That was again the case in the first overtime period as Laure and Douthit missed their shots and Cervantes unable to get his baseline floater through the net with 18 seconds left.
Fatigue seemingly got the better of the Elite in the second overtime period, with Laure and Douthit hitting the back iron in their separate jumper tries. That proved to be the death knell for Blackwater as Hamady N’Diaye and Karl Dehesa took over late to steer Kia to the win.
The effort was not lost on Blackwater as it kept the numbers close in every department.
N’Diaye’s presence, however, was the glaring difference as the Carnival outrebounded the Elite, 70-57. CC
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