Blatche bill now in Senate; MVP hints at giving up SBP post

MANILA, Philippines – The fate of Brooklyn Nets big man Andray Blatche as Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized center in the FIBA World Cup in Spain and the Asian Games in Korea is now at the hands of the Senate.

Top SBP officials led by executive director Sonny Barrios, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes along with his staff and current naturalized player Marcus Douthit are expected to attend the first of three Senate hearings Tuesday.

“We are grateful to the Congress and the Senate for giving it an expedite treatment. Let’s see how it turns out tomorrow (Tuesday) but we really appreciate the effort and consideration that they would give to Blatche,” SBP president Manny V. Pangillinan told reporters after one of his PBA teams, Talk n Text Tropang Texters, won their seventh in a row Monday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

If approved, Blatche will reinforce Gilas Pilipinas which will seek a top 16 finish in the 24-nation FIBA World Cup and the crown in the Asian Games in Korea.  Douthit, meanwhile, will be retained as a reserve and will be put in active lineup in case something happens to Blatche between now and August.

“Ang kasunduan is [to play Blatche] in Spain and Korea.  We will retain Marcus Douthit as a reserve. We owe him a lot for being with the Gilas team for such a long time,” Pangilinan told Philstar.com.

The long-time basketball benefactor also hinted at changes in the SBP as he plans to step down from his post. 

“[SBP has a long-term plan for the country to become a major player in Asian and World basketball but] I think they will need a new and younger president. I’ve served my time. But I will still support SBP and will stand by whoever will be the new president and of course, Gilas,” Pangilinan said.

The man known as MVP in the sports circle will go down in the history of Philippine basketball as the leader, who unified the sport and restored the country’s relevance in the Asian and World caging scene.

Pangilinan also thanked the PBA board for adjusting the league’s calendar to give Gilas a longer time to prepare and join the tough FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China in July.  

“We’re also grateful for any particular space the PBA can give Gilas for training. It [FIBA Asia Cup] will be a good training for them because there will be some national teams aside from us who will play there,” Pangilinan said.

“It’s a good tune-up kasi kaka-release lang ng mga PBA players natin [from their mother teams] and it will be their first time to play together,” Pangilinan added.  

In the earlier proposal by league commissioner Chito Salud to the board, the Governors’ Cup will end on July 9 giving Gilas players the green light to fly the next day in time for the FIBA Asia Cup which tips off on July 11.