Blatche eager to reunite with Gilas Pilipinas pals

Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player Andray Blatche hinted yesterday that he would soon be reunited with his “brothers” with the national team after he was a no-show on his supposed arrival the other day.

According to sources, the 6-foot-11 Blatche was scheduled to arrive last Sunday from China, where he is currently playing with defending CBA champion Xinjiang Flying Tigers.

In his Instagram account, however, Blatche bared he will be arriving soon. “Be back with my brothers real soon to take care of business,” said Blatche, 31, through his IG account @draylive with a hashtag #puso and an emoticon of the Philippine flag.

The business Blatche is referring to pertains to the national team’s bid in the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament, which starts with a Nov. 24 encounter against Japan in Tokyo. After that, Gilas plays host to Chinese Taipei on Nov. 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The post Blatche made marked the first time he made mention of Gilas, or since apologizing to his decision to skip the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon where the Philippines placed seventh overall.

The last time the former members of the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets suited up with Gilas was during the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) last May here. Blatched helped the national team win the SEABA title.

Aside from Japan and Taipei, the Filipinos are in the same Group B with Australia. The national team started its training session last Nov. 3, and last week head coach Chot Reyes said that only Blatche knows when he is arriving here.

“We hope he would be here on the 12th,” said the Gilas mentor. “But you’ll never know with Andray until he arrives. That’s the only time you’ll know he’s here – pag dating niya.”