There were no signs of travel fatigue from Andray Blatche as he made his way to the SMART-Araneta Coliseum to attend SMART Gilas Pilipinas’ second practice of the day, Sunday evening. He touched down in Manila at around 2:00am.
Though he arrived exactly just six days before the Philippines kicks off its 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifers campaign against Japan in Tokyo, the 6-foot-11 stretch big man says that his re-education to coach Chot Reyes’ system has been seamless so far.
“I mean we had a practice earlier, so it was pretty much getting comfortable with the offense, the defense, and the players and the coaching staff,” said the 31-year-old naturalized Filipino.
“It’s a quick adjustment for me.”
Blatche is coming off two games with his Chinese Basketball Association club team Xinjiang Flying Tigers. In the two games he played there, he posted norms of 26.50 points, 11.50 rebounds, and 2.50 blocks.
Safe to say, the right calf injury that bothered him during the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup is improving.
“I’m great, I’m in good shape,” said Blatche, who last played for SMART Gilas back in the 2017 SEABA Championships back in May. “I’ve been playing overseas in China and I’m trying to get back from injury and be back on the court playing.”
With SMART Gilas playing two games in a span of four days and accross 1,861 miles, Blatche is not planning to waste the effort that they will put in over the upcoming days. His aim is to give the Philippines an unblemished 2-0 slate in the first window of the tournament.
“I’m just looking forward to winning. Wherever we are, the main focos is winning,” he vowed.
“We’ll go to Japan, get a win, come back here and get the win.
“That’s the goal,” Blatche declared.
