Blackwater taps Douthit to replace injured Charles

MANILA, Philippines -- Marcus Douthit will be back in action in the local pro league as the Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player has agreed to take over from the injury-stricken Chris Charles as import of the Blackwater Elite in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Meanwhile, San Miguel Beer has found a replacement for Arinze Onuaku on American-Dominican 6-foot-8 player Ronald Roberts Jr.

“He’s not a pure post player as he can play from the perimeter with a good midrange shots. But we can still start both Junemar Fajardo and Arwind Santos with him,” said San Miguel coach Leo Austria of the St. Joseph’s U alumnus with a recent stint with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA D-League. 

Douthit, reinforcing the Air21 Express in the same tourney three years ago, suits up with the Elite while awaiting the start of the preparation of Team Phl for the Singapore SEA Games in June.

The former Providence U stalwart led the tourney in scoring and rebounding in his tour of duty with the Express.

Douthit is under contract with Gilas Pilipinas up to the middle of the year or until the SEA Games and the SEABA Championship that serves as the regional qualifier for the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.

Andray Blatche, however, is to take over from Douthit as Gilas competes in the Asian tourney that serves as the continental eliminator for the 2016 Olympics.

Charles, joining the Blackwater training as early as last December, was sidelined by a hamstring injury in the Elite’s first game in the Commissioner’s Cup versus the Barako Bull Energy Wednesday.

Playing importless, the Elite remained winless from the Philippine Cup, reeling to a 70-92 loss to the Barako Bull Energy.