BLATCHE GIVES PHILIPPINES HOPE OF QUALIFYING FOR THE RIO OLYMPICS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 05 Jan 2016
Blatche.
The decision of former NBA Brooklyn Nets standout Andray Blatche to play for Gilas Pilipinas has given hope to the Philippine basketball team that it could qualify for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil later this year.
In a story by Adrian Stewart Co, FIBA.com reports that there is plenty of optimism that the current Gilas squad coached by Tab Baldwin will break a 44 year old drought of failing to qualify for the Olympic Games when it competes in one of the three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments with the winners of each six-team event booking a place in the Rio Olympics.
The FIBA story noted that while Asia hasn?t been the powerhouse continent of international basketball there is no doubt that the level of play has improved and the Philippines is one of the teams that are on the up.
The Philippines added Blatche to the line-up after he was naturalized by an act of Congress and the American surpassed expectations at the 2014 FIBA World Cup of basketball.
Blatche led the team in points and rebounds and helped the Philippines stay close in its first four games before leading Gilas Pilipinas to victory over Senegal in their final game.
Although he was clearly out of shape, Blatche quickly buckled down to work and helped the Philippines reach the finals of the 2015 FIBA Asia Championships before losing to hosts China.
Team manager Butch Antonio told Panay News that after it was decided to compete for a place in the Rio Olympics qualifying tournament ?we immediately informed Andray who gave the Filipinos the nod that yes, he?s ready to play for the national team. Antonio said Blatche ?gave his assurance that he?ll be available and is okay.?
Statistically it means that the Philippines will get a player who averaged 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds in the World Cup in Spain and 23.5 points and 9.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists while playing for the Xianjiang Flying Tigers, currently the leading team in the Chinese Basketball Association.
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