ALLAN THE MAN

Filipino fans could soon be getting their first look at NBA player Andray Blatche, the Philippine national men’s basketball team’s most recent addition, as the big man is reportedly on his way to the country. 

Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes said on his Twitter account that Blatche, whose naturalization has already been approved by both chambers of Congress and is merely awaiting the signature of President Benigno Aquino III for the measure to be enacted into law, is already on a plane headed here and is scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning. 

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.

Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche is looking forward to the opportunity to help the Philippine national basketball team in the FIBA World Cup in Spain.

“I am excited,” Blatche said in an interview with Julius Romero of NBA Philippines. “This is something new.”

“It is a blessing for this opportunity. Hopefully, I can share my talent in helping the Philippines,” he added.

The Philippine Congress has already approved the bill for Blatche’s naturalization, with the Senate set to tackle its own version of the bill as well.

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara admitted Wednesday that beating Fiba’s July 15 deadline to clear the necessary requirements for a naturalized player to be eligible in the coming World Cup won’t be easy.

“It’s a tall order but we will try our best,” Angara, Senate Committee chairman on Games, Amusement and Sports, told INQUIRER in a text message Wednesday.

Angara filed Senate Bill No. 2108 on February 5 granting Filipino citizenship to American Andray Blatche, who plays center for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, to fortify Gilas Pilipinas’ bid in the World Cup this August.

Taking a cue from Antipolo Rep. Robbie Puno, Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara has filed a bill to push for the naturalization of NBA players Javale McGee and Andray Blatche.

According to Ruby Tayag’s dzMM report, the neophyte senator believes McGee of the Denver Nuggets and Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets will be able to help Gilas Pilipinas in its campaign at the 2014 FIBA World Basketball Cup.

Angara hopes the two players will become naturalized Filipino citizens in time for the FIBA Worlds, which is set to begin on August 30.

GILAS Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes bared on Thursday that they are looking to tap either Javale McGee or fellow NBA player Andray Blatche to reinforce the national team in the Fiba World Cup in Spain in August.

Emerging from a meeting with the PBA board on Thursday, Reyes said two bills have been filed in Congress by Rep. Robbie Puno seeking the naturalization of McGee of the Denver Nuggets and Blatche of the Brooklyn Nets.