Hail, Dray Blatche has got more gold to give

HE’S ONLY 29, but had played older and slower, looking disposable, at the start of the current Fiba Asia championship in China.
Just one jewel of a game, against Iran on Monday, and Andray Blatche glows and looms brand new.
The man, after all, is a genuine treasure of an athlete.
He has more golden greatness to give, sky is the limit.
* * *
I said Gilas had got nothing left to hide or give, following the team’s soft and scattered finish against Palestine last week wherein Blatche was caught napping in the closing minute.
I take back my word.
Yes, looking back, that was a totally different Blatche we all saw there.
He looked lost and wasted. He could not execute at the clutch.
* * *
Sorry Mr. Blatche for doubting your worth.
I was wrong, very wrong.
I no longer have to ask you where you dug those extra energy and skills.
You were just super. Period.
That was magical competence you spun on the court, considering the harrowing weight reduction you had to go through.
* * *
You know what? You made the feared Iranian giant Hamed Haddadi look every inch a bogus NBA graduate.
Maybe you did not intend to shame the poor fellow.
Unfortunately, it was a race between a tested thoroughbred and a retirable plow horse that we all saw.
You did unmask Haddadi. You made him look like your understudy.
* * *
But the greater thing was your selflessness. You opened scoring lanes, while kicking off to waiting wingers, in the process keeping the Gilas offensive machine smoothly clicking.
You also inspired an unshakeable defensive stand.
Anyway, if you did the magnificent facilitating, we should all salute and thank the master and mentor.
* * *
Coach Tab Baldwin composed and orchestrated everything quietly.
The fourth quarter crescendo, the sudden spitfire spew of Jayson Castro, the blinding homestretch dazzle of both Calvin Abeva and Terrence Romeo, could only be plotted and ordered by a genius of a hardcourt conductor.
The rhythm and timing was perfect.
Pray that this golden moment in Philippine basketball holds.