by Jonas Terrado
Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao plans to allow naturalized player Andray Blatche join NLEX practices starting next week as part of his preparation for next month’s FIBA World Cup.
Guiao is hoping the move will help Blatche not only get up to speed but also improve his conditioning with more than a month remaining before Gilas opens its World Cup campaign against Italy on Aug. 31 in Foshan, China.
The Road Warriors, whose PBA Commissioner’s Cup campaign ended after a 3-8 record, begin preparation for the season-ending Governors’ Cup on Monday.
“We’re still having limitations with our practice time but we’ll try to find a way to give him extra days of practice,” Guiao said after Monday’s practice at the Meralco Gym.
“We’ll bring him to our practices so that he can practice on a daily basis either with the Gilas team or the NLEX team,” added Guiao.
