'What a shame': Chot Reyes confirms Andray Blatche out of Gilas Pilipinas for Asian Games

With less than two weeks left before the team's first game in the Asian Games basketball tournament in Incheon, South Korea, Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes confirmed that naturalized center Andray Blatche will definitely not be part of the national team for the competition.

 

Blatche, who was conferred Filipino citizenship in June by a law in order to play for Gilas in the FIBA Basketball World Cup, is allowed to see action for the Philippines under world basketball body's eligibility rules.

The Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee (IAGOC), however, insisted on implementing Olympic Council of Asia rules requiring three years of residency period for the Games.

 

Gilas had no choice but to accept the disqualification after appeals made by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) fell on deaf ears.

Just got final word from Incheon that Blatche is out. What a shame. Gotta get @DouthitMarcus in game shape, pronto! #LabanPilipinasPuso

— Chot Reyes (@coachot) September 11, 2014

Reyes, who earlier hit out at the inconsistencies of the Asian Games organizers, tweeted that he now has to prepare another naturalized center Marcus Douthit to take Blatche's place.

Blatche, who spent last season with the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, led Gilas in scoring and rebounding in the World Cup. His presence would have installed Gilas as among the favorites for the gold in the Asiad.

 

Douthit is a member of the Gilas squad that won silver in the FIBA Asia Championship last year, which gave the Philippines a ticket to the World Cup. Before Blatche joined the team, Douthit also suited up for Gilas in the FIBA Asia Cup last July, where the team bagged bronze. — JST, GMA News