Elite out to rise with Rhett

Mississippi’s M.J. Rhett dunks against Brigham Young in the second half of a first round NCAA tournament gameTuesday, March 17, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio. Mississippi won 94-90 to advance. (AP Photo/Skip Peterson)

Blackwater play a 23-year-old veteran of the Latvian league for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup as it shoots to go deeper in the playoffs of the import-spiced conference that fires off on Feb. 10.

Malcolm Rhett has been working out with the Elite, impressing the coaching staff led by Leo Isaac and team owner Dioceldo Sy.

Blackwater made the quarterfinals of the ongoing Philippine Cup.

A 240-pound former University of Mississippi Rebel in the US NCAA, Rhett will be coming off a stint in Latvia where teams are allowed as many as five imports.

“Judging from his game and attitude, he could be the right fit for the team,” said Sy after watching his Elite play UAAP champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws recently.

Blackwater gave a good account of itself in the Philippine Cup, bowing out of the quarterfinals after a narrow loss to powerhouse Rain or Shine.

Carlo Lastimosa has emerged as the team’s top scorer with Mike Cortez, the veteran out of La Salle, providing the leadership that was lacking in the sophomore team last season.