Coach Yeng Guiao has submitted a lineup to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in anticipation for Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian qualifiers next month, with naturalized player Andray Blatche finally making it to be part of the team.
When talking about the decision, Guiao revealed during the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Media Day, “We met last Tuesday with the SBP and the coaching staff. We are going to start practicing on January 21st.” He added, “We already submitted the lineup to SBP and it’s up to the SBP to make it public.”
At the end of his statement, he confirmed, “Andray Blatche is in the lineup.” Guiao clarified that because Blatche is based in the United States, he would prefer to arrive in the Philippines in January, but “if not possible, maybe first week of February… as long as he is in shape.” According to Coach Yeng, “That’s what we won’t know until we see him.” Blatche was not part of the team’s last FIBA run due to his completion of his three-game suspension from the infamous Philippine-Australian brawl.
In order to prepare for their next matches, Coach Yeng also requested for the permission of the PBA to allow twice-a-week practices, stating in a mix of English and Filipino, “We will talk to the PBA to request that instead of once a week, our practice is now twice a week.”
The final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers starts on February 21 where the team will face Qatar, followed by a game on February 24 against Kazakhstan. The Filipino representatives currently are in a 5-5 standing within their Group F, so they must win both games in order to make it to the top three that goes through to the next round.