Baldwin confident Blatche can get to form in time for FIBA Asia

Andray Blatche visibly struggled to find his stroke in Gilas Pilipinas' opening game in the MVP Cup, going 1-of-8 in the national team's 93-77 win over local team Talk 'N Text on Friday night.

It was his first game since Gilas played in a pocket tournament in Estonia, as he had to go back to the United States to attend his uncle's funeral right before the start of the team's William Jones Cup campaign.

The former NBA player is now pressed for time to return to his lethal form, but head coach Tab Baldwin is confident his best scoring option will be ready in time for the FIBA Asia Championships.

"Andray didn't hit his outside shots but it's coming," he told reporters after the game. "He's had time off, and he's gotta get the feel back."

Blatche originally intended to play at least one game in the Jones Cup, but he missed the team's final match against Chinese Taipei B as he had to look after his sick mother.

Now that he is back with the team, however, Baldwin is not worried about the naturalized Filipino's capability to whip himself back into shape.

"He's played the game for so long at such a high level that it will come back to him pretty easily," the American-Kiwi coach said.

Baldwin said he knows it would take some work, so he put Blatche on the floor for 25 minutes in order to help him get into rhythm.

Blatche had to endure a bit of pain in his midsection after accidentally getting hurt while setting a pick for Jayson Castro early in the first quarter, but he soldiered on after getting some treatment.

"I was doing fine until I got elbowed in my back and it kind of slowed me down and made it worse," he said.

Blatche finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while providing Gilas with a solid presence at the rim. - RAF, GMA News