Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
After a long wait, Andray Blatche is finally back with Gilas Pilipinas.
The 6-foot-11 naturalized center arrived early Sunday morning to rejoin his Gilas teammates ahead of their Fiba World Cup qualifying game against Japan.
Smart Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio fetched him from the airport.
“Welcome home Andray! #labanpilipinas #puso,” wrote Antonio on his Twitter account.
Welcome home Andray! #labanpilipinas #puso
A post shared by Butch Antonio (@butch_antonio) on
Blatche immediately participated in the team’s morning and evening sessions on Sunday.
National team coach Chot Reyes posted a photo of Blatche working out at Meralco Gym.
“Sunday morning vibe #GilasGrind”
Sunday morning vibe #GilasGrind
A post shared by Chot Reyes (@coachot) on
Blatche came from China, where he posted 26 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals in the Xinjiang Flying Tigers’ 91-86 victory over Zhejiang Guangsha Lions on Friday.
With his obligations in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) currently on hold, Blatche can now shift his focus on the Philippines’ campaign in the first leg of the 2019 Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Gilas opens its campaign against Japan on November 24 at Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Gymnasium in Tokyo, before taking on Chinese Taipei on November 27 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Blatche last donned the PH colors in the 2017 Seaba Championship last May, where he netted averages of 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.4 blocks.