ALLAN THE MAN

With Andray Blatche out of the Asian Games, Gilas Pilipinas will be tapping his fellow naturalized player Marcus Douthit for the 2014 Asian Games.

Also joining Gilas in Incheon, South Korea is team captain Jimmy Alapag, who will be stepping in for injured Jason Castro.

“We’re not healthy at all. We’re a banged up team.”

That’s the condition of the Philippine national men’s basketball team after some bone-wearying matches in their recently-concluded stint in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, according to their head coach, Chot Reyes.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manuel V. Pangilinan on Monday made the country’s final appeal to allow naturalized star Andray Blatche to play in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea this September.

Despite receiving a decision from the Olympic Council of Asia essentially disallowing naturalized NBA player Andray Blatche from suiting up for the Philippine national men’s basketball team in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas vowed that they were not giving up the fight just yet.

He said that the SBP is looking at three options – including sitting out the Asian Games – though they have yet to make an official decision.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team is currently fighting for naturalized star Andray Blatche to be eligible for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea following the organizers’ decision to disqualify him due to residency issues.

This is not the first time that the national basketball team has experienced such incident, as the country also lost some naturalized players when they were deemed ineligible in an Olympic qualifying tournament in 1983.

World basketball governing body FIBA has thrown its support behind the Philippine national men’s basketball team regarding the eligibility of naturalized center Andray Blatche for the Asian Games in South Korea this September.

Blatche has been disqualified from the Asian Games after organizers demanded proof of the NBA center’s residency of at least three years in the Philippines. He was granted Filipino citizenship under a special law signed by President Benigno Aquino last June.

Naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche may not be able to suit up for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea after the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) reportedly questioned his eligibility.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richie Garcia said the OCA has pointed out that Blatche, who became a naturalized Filipino only last June, has to serve a 3-year residency before he can represent the Philippines in the XVII Asiad.

Philippine National Men’s Basketball Team (Gilas Pilipinas) Head Coach Chot Reyes revealed his 12-man roster for the 2014 Asian Games to be held on Incheon, Korea from September 19 – October 4, 2014.

Gilas Pilipinas 12-man roster to 2014 Asian Games: