Andray is the insurance
If the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas had its way, they would want to field the best team possible for the 2017 SEABA Championships — the main qualifier to the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup for the region.
Though the Philippines Men’s National Basketball Team have dominated the regional meet — winning the crown four times in the last 10 years — the SBP does not want to be complacent, especially as the country will be hosting the event from May 16-21.
“We cannot take SEABA lightly. Although we have been lording it over the past years, we have to understand that the worst place that we can be is in a place of complacency,” SBP deputy executive director Butch Antonio told Tiebreaker Times.
“We cannot take things lightly. We cannot be complacent. We won’t take any chances that’s why we are fielding the best team.”
And fielding the best team entails the return of naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche.
The 30-year-old Blatche is currently campaigning in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers. With the CBA season ending on April 19 and the Gilas practices in full swing, Antonio hopes that the negotiation between the two parties ends positively and as soon as possible.
“With regards to Andray Blatche, communication lines are still open. I personally am in communication with Andray’s group, not Andray himself, to see how we can work out to have him with us for SEABA.
“Positive naman but there’s nothing set in stone. I’d like to have agreements done as soon as possible so that even the coaches can proceed thinking with Andray there,” Antonio shared.
“We’d like to have Andray back. Andray is the insurance.”
But everything is “still under nego.”
