Chot lives, dies with Blatche
Naturalized import Andray Blatche had some shaky moments in Gilas’ 77-71 win over Japan in a FIBA Asia/Pacific first round qualifier for the World Cup in Tokyo last Friday but coach Chot Reyes said the NBA veteran redeemed himself in the end, delivering in the clutch because “that’s the way he is.”
Blatche, 31, arrived in Manila from China, where he’s playing out his contract with Xinjiang in the CBA, only two days before Gilas left for Japan last Tuesday so his practice time was extremely limited. He postponed his arrival at least twice, causing Reyes to scramble to bring him up to speed. Since Blatche joined Gilas for the FIBA World Cup in 2014, he has never arrived on the agreed date and this is his fifth stint with the national team.
Against Japan, Blatche had six turnovers, including two when the Akatsuki Five dropped a 12-0 bomb to open the second half. Reyes brought him back on the bench to regroup. “I didn’t tell Dray anything,” said Reyes. “Our team culture is such that players trust the coach’s decisions, including rotation.” When Blatche returned to play, he was more focused. Blatche hit a short stab to break a 46-all tie and drained a three to end the period with Gilas on top, 59-55.
In the fourth quarter, Blatche knocked down 2-of-2 free throws after going 1-of-5 and buried a triple to highlight a 7-0 blast that made it 70-60 for Gilas. Reyes said Blatche came through down the stretch. “You take the bad with the good,” he said. “It’s hard to say if Chris (Standhardinger) could’ve done a better job.” Blatche finished with 13 points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
Assistant coach Jong Uichico said Blatche only had three or four practice days with Gilas and it showed. “That’s why he didn’t play a great game but he gives opponents problems, too,” he said. “Japan played mostly zone with a small lineup but I don’t think it threw us off. We knew they would zone us for the most part. We made key stops and crucial baskets.”
Reyes said he apologized to Japan’s coach Julio Lamas of Argentina for calling a timeout with a second left and the game on ice. He explained that it was because of the possibility of FIBA applying the aggregate points system used by FIFA to decide home-and-away ties in football. Reyes said he was advised only after the game that the FIFA system would not be applied by FIBA. Initially, FIBA toyed with the idea of implementing the cumulative scoring system in every two-game, home-and-away series. But the regular quotient system will still be employed to break ties in the group level at the end of the first round of the qualifying phase.
Reyes said before the contest, he spoke with Lamas and mentioned how quickly three years had passed since their confrontation at the FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain. Lamas was then the Argentina coach and Reyes piloted Gilas to a near upset. Jayson Castro bungled a three-point attempt and was called for traveling with the game on the line in the last few seconds. If Castro had made the three, Gilas would’ve taken over the lead. Instead, Argentina held on to win, 85-81, with two free throws to close it.
Last Friday, Castro more than made up for what he failed to do against Argentina and was Lamas’ biggest headache. Castro delivered 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists to spoil Lamas’ debut with Japan in the World Cup qualifiers.