By Waylon Galvez
Gilas Pilipinas naturalized center Andray Blatche is ready to return for national team duties.
Blatche, a former NBA player, expressed Monday his excitement in a social media post to suit up again for the Philippine Team in the fifth window of FIBA World Cup qualifiers the country will host this month.
“War ready waiting on that phone call on these two upcoming games,” said Blatche in his caption on a photo collage on his Instagram account @draylive.
Blatche is serving a three-game suspension handed by FIBA for his role in a July 2 bench-clearing incident against Australia during the third window of the World Cup qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The 6-foot-11 Blatrche already served the two-game suspension when the national team came short versus Iran 81-73 in Tehran last September 13, and in a 92-81 triumph over Qatar last September 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Blatche will serve his third game suspension when the Philippines hosts Kazakhstan on November 30, but will be available when the national team takes on Iran on December 3. Both games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The two games are crucial as the national team tries to improve its third place ranking in Group F carrying a 5-3 card behind Australia (7-1) and Iran (6-2), while at fourth is Japan (4-4), followed by Kazakhstan (3-5) and Qatar (2-6).
Gilas Pilipinas will resume its training in two weeks under coach Yeng Guiao, who has replaced mentor Chot Reyes. Guiao already mentioned that Blatche will be part of the national team pool from where he will select his roster for the two games.
