Gilas team manager Butch Antonio confirmed Monday evening that naturalized big man Andray Blatche has already signed his new deal with the squad. His contract will run until the 2016 Olympics if the National Team makes it there.
“Andray is really on board already. We are just looking forward to see him join the team right now, tentatively May. Yung (deal) niya is really up to Rio (if we make it). Doon muna tayo,” Antonio said of Blatche, who is expected to arrive on May 15th.
There is no need to worry though, as Antonio shared Blatche is the team’s top choice for naturalized player for tournaments even after August.
“Andray naman is already waiting for the chance to play for Gilas so he will be ready and more than willing for any adjustment he has as far as schedule is concerned,” Antonio said.
“Si Andray naman is our resident naturalized player. He is actually on-call for any time we need his services.”
Photo courtesy of FIBA
Antonio added the two sides just needed to come up with terms mainly to allow Blatche to keep playing for club teams as well.
“Yung atin lang, we put terms kasi he has other obligations and we don’t want to deny him the right to play elsewhere especially during a FIBA off-season. He is there anytime we will call on him. It is expected of him to play for us. We just don’t want to limit him for us. If he can play in China or if he gets lucky, even the NBA, that is good for us too.”
