MACAU -- Blackwater is out of the 2018 Asia League Summer Super 8.
The Elite closed out the group stage play with a 90-66 demolition of the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka on Thursday to end with a 2-1 record.
But powerhouse Guangzhou, a cinch to sweep Group B, dropped a narrow 78-73 decision to the Seoul Samsung Thunders in the nightcap, forging a three-team tie at 2-1.
The Long Lions managed to earn the top seeding in Group B, while the Thunders, owing to a more superior quotient, nosed out the Elite for the second and last spot in the crossover semis.
Although the Elite won over the Thunders, 79-68, Blackwater's 88-69 defeat to the Guangzhou Long Lions proved to be the backbreaker.
At the close of preliminary games, Guangzhou owned a plus-15 in quotient, Samsung had minus-6 while Blackwater minus-8. Only the top two teams from each group advance to the crossover semis, leaving the Elite out of contention.
Meantime, NLEX finished second behind unbeaten ETLand Elephants (3-0) in Group A following its second win in three games, a come-from-behind 88-78 win over the Xinjiang Guangui Flying Tigers.
The Flying Tigers dropped out of semis contention with their second loss in three games.
The crossover semis begins Saturday with the two South Korean clubs from the Korean Basketball League -- the Elephants and the Thunders facing off starting at 5 p.m. at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.
The other semifinal pairing will feature Guangzhou and NLEX at 7 p.m.
The winners advance to the knockout championship round to contest the 2018 Summer Super 8 crown.
Blackwater at least exits on a high note.
Blackwater caught fire from 3-point range in the middle quarters in beating the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka on Thursday.
Ael Banal, Nard Pinto and Mike DiGregorio combined for seven 3-pointers during the Elite's decisive run in the second and third periods to push Blackwater's lead to 64-49.
Blackwater maintained its hot streak to open the fourth quarter with an 18-5 run to put the game beyond reach.
The Elite shot 51.5 percent from the floor, including 10-of-24 conversions from the three-point zone.
Blackwater, which suffered an 88-69 beating at the hands of Guangzhou on Wednesday, flashed a mean form this time after outrebounding Rizing Zephyr, 52-41. Blackwater dominated in the paint with their sizeable 38-10 advantage.
Rookie forward Raymar Jose flirted with a double-double after finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds. Pinto added 15 points, six rebounds and four assists while Roi Sumang had an all-around stats line of 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals.
Paul Zamar also contributed big off the bench with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Mike DiGregorio chipped in 10 and six boards.
Kazuya Hatano and Daisuke Kobayashi led the Fukuoka side with 14 points apiece.
The Scores:
BLACKWATER 90 - Jose 18, Pinto 15, Sumang 11, DiGregorio 10, Zamar 10, Banal 8, Erram 7, Javier 6, Belo 2, Maliksi 2, Palma 1.
RIZING ZEPHYR FUKUOKA 66 - Hatano 14, Kobayashi 14, Komoda 11, Kanou 9, You 7, Tsuyama 6, Yamashita 5, Ishitani 0.
Quarters: 19-18, 45-38, 66-55, 90-66.