Blatche ready…

Abu Tratter, Jio Jalalon, Allein Maliksi and Carl Bryan Cruz. For Australia, Reyes picked Abueva, Aguilar, Pogoy, Wright, Norwood, Fajardo, Ravena, Alas, Blatche, Tratter, Maliksi and Cruz.

Both Gilas and Japan are coming off losses so tonight’s clash is critical. Japan’s back is against the wall because the Akatsuki (or dawn) squad is winless in three outings in the Asia/Pacific qualifiers so far. Japan will stage the 2020 Olympics and Argentinan coach Julio Lamas was recruited to prepare the national team for the Tokyo event where it is assured a slot as the host nation.

In the first window, Gilas beat Japan, 77-71, on the road. But tonight, Japan is unveiling 6-1, 28-year-old hotshot Naoto Tsuji who sat out the first window. Tsuji made his FIBA Asia/Pacific qualifiers debut in Japan’s 7069 loss to Chinese-Taipei in Yokohama last Thursday and delivered 26 points in 26.9 minutes. Tsuji hit 8 of 13 triples in the contest. The other double figure scorers for Japan in the loss were 6-3 Makoto Hiejima with 14 points and 6-4 naturalized import Ira Brown with 12. Japan was outrebounded by Chinese-Taipei, 46-37 and had difficulty scoring in the interior, preferring to fire from outside. If Gilas is able to impose its size advantage – with Blatche out for redemption – and shut down the Japanese gunners, the homecrowd will be treated to a big win tonight.