Blatche hopes to play in PBA

MANILA, Philippines — Two-time FIBA World Cupper Andray Blatche has dreams of someday playing in the PBA but Father Time and rules are making it difficult to come true. “I’ve been trying to play in the PBA the last 10 years,” said Blatche who’s in town preparing with the Strong Athletics Group team to play in the Dubai International Basketball Championships at the Al Nasr Club, United Arab Emirates, on Jan. 19-28.

“I love the Philippines and it’s always good to be back,” said Blatche who flew in from Atlanta last week and will leave with the Strong squad for Dubai tomorrow. Blatche, 37, will suit up as a local since he’s naturalized and play with two imports on the floor in Dubai. It’s an advantage that Blatche said will create matchup problems for the opposition. Strong’s imports are Dwight Howard, McKenzie Moore and Andre Roberson.

“We’ve got a target on our backs,” said Blatche. “But Dwight and I, man, we’ll be tough together.” Howard, 38, played in 18 NBA seasons and Blatche in nine. Moore, 31, is a 6-6 forward who played as a TNT import in the PBA in 2021. Roberson, 32, is a 6-7 forward who’s a seven-year NBA veteran. PBA rules stipulate height limits for imports. In the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup, the ceiling is 6-9. Blatche stands 6-11. Naturalized players aren’t considered locals in the PBA unlike in leagues in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia.

In the Dubai competition, Strong coach Charles Tiu said yesterday he was just informed of a format change. Instead of 10 teams, the tournament has expanded to 12, meaning five elimination games before the playoffs. Strong is in Group B with Beirut, Homenetmen, Al Ahly Tripoli, Al Wehda and the United Arab Emirates national team. Group A is composed of Al Riyadi, Sagesse Sports Club, Tunisia National Team, Al Ahly Benghazi, A.S Sale and Al Nasr. Top four placers in each group after the elims will advance to the knockout quarters then the four survivors move on to play in the semis with the two winners vying for the championship in the final. “If we go all the way, we’ll play eight games in 10 days,” said Tiu.