Blackwater joins Penang hoop tourney

AN ALL-FILIPINO Blackwater side flew to Penang, Malaysia, on Thursday with one big mission—win the 2016 Penang Chief Minister International Invitational championship.

The five-day tournament kicks off today with the Elite tangling with Taiwan’s Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology in the second game at 6 p.m. at Han Chiang Indoor Stadium.

Clashing in the opening game are Zhejiang Chouzhou Commercial Bank-China and Thailand’s Pea Basketball Club.

A brief opening ceremony will be held at 8:40 p.m., before newly-crowned Asean Basketball League champions Malaysia Dragons clash with India’s Karnataka State.

Each team is allowed to field in two American imports but Blackwater opted to play all-Filipino in the tournament.

Blackwater coach Leo Isaac said he expects competition to be much stronger, given the opponents’ bigger reinforcements.

“By joining this tournament, we intend to sharpen the skills of the players in a tournament where we don’t know the players,” said Isaac, who is prepping his team for the PBA Governors’ Cup. “This way we can develop our chemistry and confidence.”