GILAS head coach Yeng Guiao is not ruling out the possibility of tapping naturalized player Andray Blatche anew when the Philippines bids to revive its hopes in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in February next year.
Blatche, who has served his three-game suspension for his involvement in the infamous Australia brawl last June, came out on social media prior to Gilas’ games with Kazakhstan and Iran, declaring that he is ready to suit up.
But Guiao took a risk and opted to sideline the 6-foot-11 former NBA player as Gilas dropped games on home soil to the Kazakhs, 92-88, and Iranians, 78-70, putting its chances of qualifying to the 2019 worlds in China in peril.
Guiao insists that naming Blatche to play when Gilas plays Qatar and Kazakhstan remains a possibility.
“We have not talked about it (among coaches). But ever since, I’ve said this before, he (Blatche) can always be considered. We have not gone that far as to make a decision on the situation,” said Guiao.
The other Gilas naturalized players are Christian Stanhardinger and Stanley Pringle. There is also that possibility that Justin Brownlee, the hard-working Ginebra import, could end up joining if his naturalization papers get passed in congress.
Following the twin losses, Guiao stood behind his decision not to call up Blatche, saying the coaching staff had “no regrets” leaving him behind in the fifth window of the qualifiers.
“Once you make that decision, you should take all the responsibility. There’s no finger pointing or blame someone,” said Guiao as he took full responsibility for the two setbacks.
The results of the two games dropped the Philippines to fourth place in Group F with a 5-5 card behind 9-1 Australia, 7-3 Iran and 6-4 Japan. Kazakhstan is at fifth with a 4-6 card followed by Qatar at 2-8.
Pringle and Standhardinger played well against Kazakhstan and Iran, as the former scored 29 points in the first game, while the latter had 17 points and eight rebounds in the second game. (WAYLON GALVEZ)
