During the group phase campaign of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, 7-foot-1 big man Isaiah Austin has been good as advertised.
Even if he had just returned to the game late last year, Austin, 23, has been showing why he was one of the top prospects in the 2014 NBA rookie class, posting norms of 19.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per contest. And he has helped lead the Manila-based club team to the third seed in the knockout quarterfinals of the continental meet.
But as they say, the playoffs are a whole different beast.
Standing in Chooks-to-Go’s way in the quarterfinals is a familiar face, as China Kashgar — the second seed in Group B — is bannered by naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche. And Austin is aware that facing Blatche and a hostile crowd is something that they need to go through in order to get far in this tourney.
“I know it’s going to be a hard game for us, it’s going to be tough. Obviously China is the home team here but it’s something that we can fight through,” he said hours before the game’s tip-off, as the game is set at 7:30pm.
“We just have to play tougher as a team, smarter as a team, and they need a lot more production from me,” pointed out Austin, who is averaging 19.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks.
“It’s going to be a tough match-up against Blatche, he’s an ex-pro. It’s going to be tough to guard a guy of his stature and capability.”
Even if he and the team hold Blatche in high regard, as the 31-year-old has helped the Gilas program soar to new heights, Austin and Chooks-to-Go plan to be the aggressor in the game in the hopes of stunning one of Asia’s giants.
“We’re ready, we’re focused, we’re locked in, we’re prepared. It’s another game. We can’t dwell on the last game,” Austin said.
“We just have to go out and hit hard.”
