The Decision (Not LeBron’s)

Now that Andray Blatche had passed the initial obstacle that is the House of Representatives as to his becoming a citizen of this archipelagic republic, it is now in the hands of the hollowed (this is not a misprint) halls of the Senate to formally Filipinize the 260 pound, 6-11 forward-center from Syracuse, New York.

Compared to congress where members are more or less on a barkadahan mode, the Senate is into their own wars of attrition, the most famous between a senior member and a feisty lady lawmaker. Another battle of pathetic proportions is now brewing between a supposedly sexy senator and a colleague who recently announced to the islands that he wants to reside at the palace by the river.

Considering that the house of this group of legislators badly needs to be demonized, whether they agree or disagree on Andray, the final bill for his naturalization is on their table. We await the decision.

If news reports are to be believed, Blatche had expressed a strong desire to play for our National Team. That’s good news for all. Here’s the catch. Andray’s mother team, the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association owns his 2- year, $ 2.8 million contract. Likewise, because the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement made player contracts ridiculously complicated, his former team, the Washington Wizards, also gives Andray about $7 million a year. Roughly, he gets $8 million annually from the Nets and the Wizards. How much exactly will he get playing for the Gilas?

In the absence of Robin Lopez, Blatche had been a semi-revelation, submitting modest averages of 11.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. If he does manages to suit up for the Gilas, he would be a very good post presence and improves our depth against the other bigs in the FIBA Worlds. At 27-years old, he’s at the prime of his playing career and is 6 years younger than our current naturalized center, Marcus Douthit.

Will the Nets, and to a minimal extent, the Wizards, allow Blatche to suit up for the Philippines? The NBA, just like our own PBA is, first and foremost, a business and letting go or loaning their assets to another entity would be ineptness to the highest degree. Pro athletes are the best marketing tools and it would not be wise for companies not to take care of their investments. We await his team’s decision.

On the other hand, Douthit, who like Blatche, also came from Syracuse, NY, and had served our National Team very well for quite a time, will not take things lightly and surely will show good work ethic to keep his spot on the squad. In the professional circuit, 33 birthdays translates to old but Marcus will not let numbers affect him.

As to the decisions made by Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter to beg off from the team, it has generated an equal amount of supporters and haters. They made their choices and there’s nothing else we can do about it. Let’s cut the bullcrap on inquiries “in aid of legislation.” It would be better for all those wise legislators who pretend to be sports lovers to craft laws that requires or compels athletes to suit up for flag and country if the need arises. By the way, were there any measures or laws enacted to counter the perpetual rift between national sporting agencies? They can’t even clean up their acts in the legislative department.

Conspiracy theories also abound in the Greg/Marcio beg off. We all know that both players come from San Miguel Corporation controlled teams and that the Gilas now currently have four players coming from the SMC group. Some quarters say that both of them were influenced by management to beg off from the pool. Others say Gilas might as well carry one of SMC’s brand had Greg and Marcio not backed out. Whatever. We heard their reasons, let’s accept it at face value. Let the theorists speculate.

*** Two youngsters who honed their hoops skills during their secondary days at the Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu joined another Cebuano contemporary in the National Youth Basketball Team. These three guys should know each other well as during their time two years ago, they always battled for top billing in the CESAFI secondary basketball wars.

Dawn Ochea and Dave Yu joins Paul Desiderio, from the UV Baby Lancers in the Philippine junior team which will be playing in the FIBA Asia 18-Under Championships to be held in Qatar on August of this year. Cebu is proud of you, boys. I am good friends with Dave and Paul’s parents and surely, Pie and Wilson Yu as well as Cristine and Abner Desiderio are doubly proud of their sons’ achievements. No way but up guys.

*** Check out the fourth staging of the XTerra Off-Road Triathlon Series at Liloan early tomorrow morning. Witness local and international elite triathletes as well as celebrities torture themselves with this sport fit for immortals.

bobbytoohotty@lycos.com