PBA FREE AGENCY: Blackwater released a reliable CENTER and a big guard!



 In a surprising move, Blackwater has promoted James Kwekuteye and Archie Concepcion to their active roster, paving the way for their PBA debut this Friday. The decision comes just before their match against TNT, following the official induction of the two rookies into the team.

However, this decision has necessitated some significant roster changes. JVee Casio has been relegated to the injured/reserve list, while Rashawn McCarthy and Yousef Taha have been moved to Blackwater’s unrestricted free agent list with rights to receive salary. 

This move could be seen as a gamble, considering the proven reliability of McCarthy and the credible performance of Taha as a starting center.

Both Kwekuteye and Concepcion have recently committed to two-year contracts with Blackwater after fulfilling their obligations with their respective MPBL teams. Kwekuteye, picked in the second round at No. 20, has shown promise with an average of 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game for Bacoor in the last MPBL season. 

Similarly, Concepcion, a third-round pick at 27th, contributed 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, playing a key role in Pampanga’s 2023 MPBL championship win.

Despite these promising additions, Blackwater, currently on a six-game losing streak with a 1-6 win-loss record, finds itself in the 11th spot in the standings. 

The team is undoubtedly hoping that these changes will help turn their fortunes around. However, only time will tell if sidelining seasoned players like McCarthy and Taha in favor of rookies will prove to be a wise decision.

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