Many fresh faces have joined the Philippine national men’s basketball team since Andray Blatche’s last appearance with the squad.
Now that the naturalized Filipino is finally on board, the Gilas Pilipinas star has to get to know his new teammates with just a few days before the SEABA Championship which tips off on Friday.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes noted how vital it is for Blatche to be familiarized with the players whom he hasn’t played with.
“More importantly to know his teammates. He knows less than 50-percent of the other guys on the team,” Reyes said.
Although he still doesn’t know their names yet, Blatche said he was impressed by what he saw from Gilas newbies Allein Maliksi, Matthew Wright, RR Pogoy and Raymond Almazan on their first practice together.
“As for the new faces, I’ve seen some great shooters – No. 4 (Maliksi) and another young guy, No. 12 (Wright) and No. 9 (Pogoy). There’s this tall guy (Almazan), I could tell he brings a lot of energy and outside shooting, too, also,” Blatche said.
Wright said he’s thrilled knowing that he’ll play alongside a former NBA veteran.
“It’s exciting. For someone with that much NBA experience, a player who has accomplished a lot in his career, a high-caliber player. Anytime you can play with a player like that, you will take advantage of it and learn from him, pick his brain about playing in the NBA, the guys he played against. I’m very excited,” Wright said.
Maliksi shared the same sentiments.
“Si Andray NBA player, hopefully mayroon kang matututunan sa kanya na puwede kong ma-improve sa skills ko sa mga future games ko,” Maliksi said.
Almazan, for his part, liked Blatche’s work ethic.
“Ang pakilala sa akin ni Calvin (Abueva) kay Blatche, this guy is crazy. So pinangatawanan ko na. Ako na yung nag-approach talaga sa kanya,” said Almazan.
“Gusto ko yung energy niya and yung leadership niya. Parang gusto niyang makuha agad yung mga plays namin. Ayaw niyang magpa-sub kanina kahit gusto ko siya i-sub. Malaking tulong sa akin yung ganun.”
While the tournament is less than a week away, Pogoy said there’s still time for the newcomers to form chemistry with Blatche.
“Kinakapa pa namin,” Pogoy said. “There’s a time pa naman, five days before the SEABA. Pero alam naman natin matalino si Andray. Agresibo siya sa first ensayo niya. Madali siyang makaka-pick up dahil alam naman niya yung dribble-drive.”
