March 18, 2016
Countdown to Manila OQT: 110 days
Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio believes naturalized big man Andray Blatche will be in better shape when he joins Gilas practices in May.
“I think he will be in better shape,” Antonio said of Blatche, who is currently playing for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association.
“He knows naman. We brought that up and confident naman (ang team). He is playing now. He is putting in good numbers.”
Antonio shared Blatche will most likely be arriving in the Philippines on May 15, when the PBA Commissioner’s Cup is already in its late stages. This would allow Blatche to train with Gilas for about seven weeks before the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July.
“Right now, the plan is to have him at about May 15. Of course things could change but that’s depending on the plans of coach Tab (Baldwin). Si coach Tab naman ang naglalatag ng lahat ng training ng Gilas,” Antonio said.
“It is also good to have him with players early na since the PBA will end on a full route on May 20. We are planning based on that. So hopefully, by that time, we have regular Gilas na.”
Antonio also bared that the squad is already finalizing a new deal for Blatche.
“Like what I said, we are hoping to finalize (his deal) sana within the week or within the next few days. Hinihintay na lang (siya). We are in touch, and we have confidence (in him),” Antonio said.
“Pagdating naman sa Pilipinas, he has a soft spot already for us,” he added.
