Marcus Douthit to replace injured Charles as Blackwater import

MANILA, Philippines – Gilas Pilipinas veteran Marcus Douthit will make his return to the Philippine Basketball Association as he joins the struggling Blackwater Elite to replace injured import Chris Charles.

The former Asean Basketball League MVP Charles sat out Blackwater’s Commissioner’s Cup opener against Barako Bull on Wednesday due to a left hamstring injury. The Elite lost the game, 92-70, and have yet to win a single game since joining the league at the beginning of the season. 

Douthit, 34, reinforced Air21 Express in 2012, averaging 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds per game in nine outings. He has already begun practicing with the team ahead of Blackwater’s game against Talk ’N Text this Sunday in Binan, Laguna. 

“I have no pressure, I am just basically replacing an injured import and [waiting] for him to come back,” Douthit, who says he hasn’t played in months and is only at 75% of his “old self”, tells Spin. “One win is better than what they did last conference. I am going to help this team out until they have their import back.” 

(RELATED: Marcus Douthit will always remain a Filipino)

Douthit is no stranger to being called up as a last minute replacement, having stepped in for Gilas in the 2014 Asian Games when Andray Blatche was ruled ineligible by the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee. 

Douthit will also see national team duty once again later this year when he joins Kiefer Ravena Bobby Ray Parks Jr. in the  Southeast Asia Basketball Association (SEABA) and the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). 

Blatche however will reassume his spot as the team’s primary naturalized player in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship. – Rappler.com