Blatche, Lee in Fiba squad
Philippines’ Andray Blatche (L) vies for the ball with France’s Joffrey Lauvergne during the friendly basketball match between France and Philippines on August 15, 2014 in Antibes, southeastern France, as part of the preparation for the 2014 Fiba basketball worldcup in Spain. AFP PHOTO / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE MAGNENET
Andray Blatche and Paul Lee, who were rested in a lopsided loss to Ukraine that ended Gilas Pilipinas’ winless stint in the Antibes International basketball tournament in France on Sunday (Monday in Manila), have been named to complete the Philippine team to the World Cup in Spain.
Coach Chot Reyes made the announcement through his Twitter account @coachot early last night, saying: “We are tapping Paul Lee to take Larry Fonacier’s spot & Andray Blatche as our naturalized player for the World Cup. God bless us all #PUSO!”
The announcement came on the heels of a 114-64 spanking from the Ukrainians in a game Blatche and Lee sat out to heal minor injuries. The Nationals proceed to Spain this week to continue their preparations for the world championship.
Fonacier had begged off from national duty this year, citing an assortment of injuries while Blatche, the former Brooklyn Nets star, takes over from Marcus Douthit, the Philippines’ original naturalized player.
Lee and Blatche will also play in the Incheon Asian Games together with Jared Dillinger, who will replace Jimmy Alapag.
Alapag, the one-time PBA MVP and veteran internationalist, will play what could be his last international event in Spain.
Against the Ukrainians, the Filipinos were in the game only in the opening minutes of the first period before trailing by as large as 51 in the loss that Reyes said served them well.
“We needed that,” Reyes said on Twitter as he acknowledged the lessons they learned in the four-nation tournament that also included Australia and host France.
Gilas lost to France, 75-68, on Friday before bowing to Australia, 97-75, the following day.
Ukraine fired a total of 19 triples against the Filipinos, who were outscored, 40-19, in the second quarter.
Blatche twisted his ankle in the loss against the French and Reyes deemed it wise to let the slight injury heal rather than use him against the Ukrainians. Lee, meanwhile, has been playing with a sore hip.
Photo from fibaasia.net
Douthit played in place of Blatche and struggled with five points. Ranidel de Ocampo led the Filipinos with 11 points.
The Nationals are bracketed in World Cup’s Group B together with Puerto Rico, Argentina, Senegal, Greece and opening f oe Croatia.
The scores:
UKRAINE 114—Lypovyy 26, Mishula 24, Zaytsev 15, Kravtsov 14, Zabirchenko 13, Mikhailiuk 11, Puztozvonov 10, Gladyr 9, Korniyenko 8, Natyahzko 7, Eugene 6, Zavadskiy 4.
GILAS PILIPINAS 64—De Ocampo 11, Chan 10, Castro 9, Tenorio 5, Douthit 5, Belga 5, Dillinger 5, Alapag 3, David 3, Aguilar 2, Fajardo 2, Washington 2, Pingris 2, Norwood 0.
Quarters: 21-16, 61-35, 83-48, 114-64
