OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF ASIA TO DECIDE ON BLATCHE ELIGIBILTY TO PLAY IN ASIAN GAMES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 Sep 2014
Blatche.
The contentious issue of the questioned eligibility of naturalized NBA player Andray Blatche has been left in the hands of the Olympic Committee of Asia or OCA to decide.
This was revealed by respected former FIBA Asia secretary general Moying Martelino in an interview with the Manila Standard/Viva Sports shortly after what he termed "the fantastic victory" of Gilas Pilipinas against Senegal in overtime on Thursday night Manila Time.
Martelino said the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee which was questioning the three-year residency rule in relation to Blatche as well as Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger had informed the Philippine Olympic Committee headed by Jose "Peping" Cojuangco that the Philippine position on Blatche's eligibility under rules of the International Olympic Committee "has been sent to the Olympic Council of Asia for a ruling and decision."
The IAGOC said they "will let us know the moment they receive a decision."
Martelino said they had also requested "an opportunity to replace Blatche" in case he is declared iniligible" which will be forced to utilize the services of previously naturalized American Marcus Douthit."
Meantime coach Chot Reyes told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that he would "talk to Jimmy Alapag to delay his retirement and lead the team in the Asian Games" after the skipper announced before the Asian Games line-up was made public that he was quitting the team after the FIBA World Cup in order to give youngsters a chance to represent the Philippines.
Alapag led the team with aplomb converting two crucial free throws in the dying seconds of overtime to seal a glorious 81-79 victory that helped ease the heartbreak of the earlier losses to Croatia, Greece and Puerto Rico. He finished with 18 points and 4 assists which was even more significant in the absence of Jason Castro who suffered a left knee injury and didn't play.
An obviously elated coach Reyes who in frustration slammed his board on the floor after turnovers in the third quarter enabled Senegal to come back from a 15 point deficit to grab a one point lead a 61-60 told us the Philippines was "one shot away from going into the next round" mused that perhaps "the time is not right."
Reyes said Gilas Pilipinas didn't have "more than 30 days of practice" and noted that the complementary tweets and comments by American journalists were well deserved.
Chot said "the highest compliment" was paid by a journalist who suggested that FIBA "give Gilas a wild card entry into the round of 16."
Former journalist Couper Moorhead who is now with the Miami Heat organization tweeted "wish they (Gilas) advance. Gilas a more enjoyable team than TEAM USA so far."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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