Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes is keeping his fingers crossed that NBA player Andray Blatche would eventually beef up the team that will try to put an end to the 52-year gold medal drought in the Asian Games.
The 6-foot-11 power forward of the Brooklyn Nets was included on the list of players the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) submitted for inclusion to the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 Incheon Asian Games.
Incheon organizers had imposed an April 30 deadline for the submission of names, including passport and the Philippine Olympic Committee even forwarded Blatche’s name to Incheon even without that crucial travel document.
Blatche’s team is currently playing in the NBA playoffs, the reason why he has yet to fly to the Philippines and present himself before lawmakers.
Still, once the Senate ratifies Blatche’s application for naturalization, acquiring a Philippine passport will be almost automatic, noted Reyes.
The last time the Philippines captured the Asian Games gold was in 1962 when the quadrennial event was hosted by Jakarta, Indonesia.
Reyes, meanwhile, said that Gilas Pilipinas will meet up with Blatche in Miami just before the squad leaves for the FIBA World Cup in Spain.
The FIBA World Cup is scheduled Aug. 30 to Sept. 14 with FIBA-Asia second-placer Gilas Pilipinas being joined by Iran, the FIBA-Asia defending champion and South Korea, the third-placer, in making up Asia’s representatives.
The SBP, headed by telecom tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, is leaving no stone unturned in giving Gilas Pilipinas all the chances to make itself stronger not only for the FIBA-World Cup but for the Asian Games as well.
source
Incheon organizers had imposed an April 30 deadline for the submission of names, including passport and the Philippine Olympic Committee even forwarded Blatche’s name to Incheon even without that crucial travel document.
Blatche’s team is currently playing in the NBA playoffs, the reason why he has yet to fly to the Philippines and present himself before lawmakers.
Still, once the Senate ratifies Blatche’s application for naturalization, acquiring a Philippine passport will be almost automatic, noted Reyes.
The last time the Philippines captured the Asian Games gold was in 1962 when the quadrennial event was hosted by Jakarta, Indonesia.
Reyes, meanwhile, said that Gilas Pilipinas will meet up with Blatche in Miami just before the squad leaves for the FIBA World Cup in Spain.
The FIBA World Cup is scheduled Aug. 30 to Sept. 14 with FIBA-Asia second-placer Gilas Pilipinas being joined by Iran, the FIBA-Asia defending champion and South Korea, the third-placer, in making up Asia’s representatives.
The SBP, headed by telecom tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, is leaving no stone unturned in giving Gilas Pilipinas all the chances to make itself stronger not only for the FIBA-World Cup but for the Asian Games as well.
source
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