MACAO – Being on the road since Friday last week, Marqus Blakely knew jet lag would catch up on him sooner or later.
Too bad his worst fears came true during Blackwater’s opening-day game in the East Asia League Terrific 12 tournament against Seoul SK Knights on Tuesday.
The former PBA Best Import admitted the effect of travelling through time zones while being in three countries over five days caught up with him in the Elite's 93-77 loss to the Knights at the Tap Seac Multisport Pavilion.
Blakely went to early foul trouble with three whistles in the opening quarter and finished with 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
The two-time PBA champion, brought in at the last-minute as replacement for the injured Aaron Fuller. He arrived in the Philippines just last Sunday and practiced with the team only twice before going here.
“I think it’s the jetlag and travelling,” he said when asked about his first game with Blackwater.
“I left Friday from Florida and now I’m playing here,” added the import. “My body is still adjusting, I’m still adjusting to the team, coach and players are still adjusting to me. We’re still fresh when it comes to where we are in the season.”
But Blakely is not making any excuses.
He said the loss was definitely on him, adding he felt letting Blackwater down after those three personal fouls right in the first quarter.
“I feel like I let my team down in the beginning because they kind of look at me as a leader and as a veteran, to gel everybody together. And for me not to be out there on the floor really hurt my team and hurt me, too. So that’s something I got to correct,” said Blakely.
The veteran import will have a chance to redeem himself on Wednesday when the Elite play the Chiba Jets in their final game in Group A.
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