A back up replacement to naturalized player Andray Blatche is one feasible agenda that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will surely discuss in the near future, as countries and leagues get to familiarize the new route going to the Fiba World Cup in 2019.
The 6-foot-11 center who played for Gilas Pilipinas in several international competitions, including the national team’s recent sweep in the Southeast Asian Basketball Championship last week, will likely have a hard time catching practices and tournaments for the Philippine squad. This is due to the governing body’s fresh cycle that shifts the old, one-time continental championships into a new home-and-away game schedule in six windows.
The decision abruptly forced the SBP to look further into the horizon as Blatche currently has a commitment for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the China Basketball Association.
“We will sit down with the board and Coach Chot [Reyes],” SBP President Al Panlilio said. “Andray is a big asset and we want to make sure that we have a back-up in any tournament. I’ll ask Chot to create a pool.”
After winning the title in the sub-zone qualifiers via a lopsided finale against Indonesia, Reyes admitted that Blatche’s tenure for the national team was limited to the Seaba tourney and no discussion has been made in light with the former NBA player’s services for Gilas.
“We only talk about the Seaba. He has an obligation in China,” Reyes said. “We still don’t know what could possibly happen.”
Blatche averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and 2.8 assists in 17.3 minutes of action in the Seaba meet. Along with PBA stars, he represented the country in the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain where he led the entire tournament in rebounds and came second in points.
The Gilas Five will see action in the Fiba Asia Cup in Lebanon in August. One tournament that Reyes also foresees as a warmer for the national team is the William Jones Cup in late July. The home-and-away games start in November, and the change in format affects Blatche’s presence with Gilas.
One strong candidate for naturalization is Greg Smith, a 6-foot-10 former veteran from the NBA. He plays for the Blackwater Elite in the PBA and he showed his intent to don the colors of the country.