Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Andray Blatche flew into the country sans fanfare on Friday and will be having enough time to train with Gilas Pilipinas as it readies for clashes against Australia and Japan in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifying series in less than two weeks.
The 6-foot-11 former Brooklyn Net in the NBA will be suiting up yet again and spearheading the Filipinos against the Aussies, ranked 10th in the world, on Feb. 22 in Melbourne and versus the Japanese three days later at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Team Philippines has so far gone undefeated in its first two games in the first window of the grueling series, notching wins against the Japanese away from home and then clipping Chinese-Taipei at the Big Dome last November.
Gilas is holding Monday-only practices for the past month and will kick up its preparations leading to the matches.
Blatche had been notorious for coming in late in preparing for tournaments with Gilas. But not this time as the Filipinos would have to be perfect if they are to stand a chance against the talented charges from Down Under.