INCHEON, South Korea—Jay Washington was in a hotel room in a foreign country when he learned that he was going “home.”
“I had heard about it before I came here but I only saw it on Twitter this morning, that it was official,” said the 32-year-old Washington, who was traded by Globalport to Talk ‘N Text recently in exchange for Nonoy Baclao and a future draft pick.
“It’s like I’m coming home.” Washington is here with Gilas Pilipinas, helping the squad prepare for the 17th Asian Games where the team hopes to end more than five decades of a gold-medal drought.
Though cut from the team, Washington spent the offseason as a practice player for Gilas. “This is my sacrifice,” he said. “I just want to be a part of this whole thing, of this team trying to make history.”
At Songdo High School gym, Washington was throwing passes to waiting shooters, simulating key players of the opposing team and acting as a sixth guy on a 5-on-6 halfcourt scrimmage.
He might have mopped the floor too, if someone would ask him to do it. When his stint here is through, he will focus on helping the Texters add to their rich championship history.
“That team is built to win championships,” said Washington.
When he was drafted in 2005, Washington was shipped by Air21 to Talk ‘N Text and played with the Texters in his first few years.