Blatche to Lead Gilas Pilipinas in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

Gilas Pilipinas’ frontcourt will get a much-needed boost once naturalized player Andray Blatche joins the team for the third window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

The former Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets player is free from any commitment with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers since the Chinese league is on its break. Blatche is flying in from the US in the first week of June. Just in time to lead the Philippine Team in their game against Chinese Taipei and Australia.

“Our agreement is first week of June, but make it plus or minus. Alam naman natin na si Andray (We all know how Andray is,)” said Butch Antonio, Gilas team manager.

Blatche has failed to join the team on the agreed date before. Despite that, he remains to be committed to helping Gilas Pilipinas achieve its goal of making the 2019 World Cup in China.

In the third leg of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Gilas will face Chinese Taipei in Taiwan on June 29. It will then host Team Australia at the Philippine Arena on July 2 to close its campaign in the first round of group plays.

With a 3-1 standing, the Australian Team already has a spot in the next round and will be competing against the top three in the group that has Iran, Qatar, Kazakhstan and Iraq. Gilas Pilipinas, on the other hand, must win against Chinese Taipei and Australia to improve its carry-over slate.

In the second window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, the Philippine Team defeated Taiwan and also won both of its home and away games against Japan. Gilas Pilipinas’ only loss in group b came from the Australian Team last February in Melbourne with a 68-84 score.

Gilas players vowed to give it their all in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in June.

via The Philippine Star / Nelson Beltran