Andray Blatche was a great offensive player in his prime. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Andray Blatche has begun plotting his life postcareer, and it would mean the world to him if he finds himself serving the Gilas Pilipinas program again.
“I’d love to,” he said when asked by reporters about the possibility of becoming a coach for the National Five. “I could be a big man coach for the big guys.
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“I’m getting to the age where it’s almost over,” he added. “At this point, you know, it might be my last show this year, actually. And what I’m thinking next is a little bit of coaching or something in that area.”
Blatche, who served as Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized ace from 2014 through 2019, is back in town to reinforce the Strong Group Athletics that is scheduled to return in the Dubai International Basketball Championship, where the squad narrowly missed the title last year.
Cousins also on team
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A big man who is proficient with the long-distance shot, Blatche will be teaming up with DeMarcus Cousins, another former NBA standout who has been playing overseas lately, leading a squad that will feature several familiar names.
Rhenz Abando, Dave Ildefonso, Gilas’ reserve naturalized ace Ange Kouame and Jason Brickman are going to lend their services to the Charles Tiu-mentored squad that will be sent to the Jan. 24 to Feb. 2 showcase.
Also seeing action are Tiu’s players at St. Benilde, Allen Liwag, Tony Ynot, and Justine Sanchez.
“Me and him played a lot together back when we were younger, in high school,” Blatche said of Cousins, a former NBA All-Star. “I feel like it’s going to be tough to cover us because we definitely both can shoot and can handle the ball and make smart passes.”
Blatche serving Gilas as a coach is a possibility that could turn to reality over at the youth program where Barangay Ginebra star LA Tenorio is now calling the shots. The pair were teammates in the squad that played in the 2014 Fiba World Cup held in Seville, Spain.
From that famed squad, two have already crossed over into coaching: Ranidel de Ocampo for TNT, Jimmy Alapag for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.
“So many memories. It made the Philippines my second home. Just the love and the support and the families I’ve made through my teammates and the coaching staff? Just amazing,” said Blatche, who briefly reflected on his basketball career as he talked about the things that lie ahead.
Another team that will be seeing action in the Dubai meet is Zamboanga Valientes, which Cousins helped to a title in The Asian Tournament in August last year.
Former UAAP Most Valuable Player and UP star Malick Diouf is set for another tour with the Valientes and will be joined by Italian Maltese giant Sam Deguara. UST playmaker Forthsky Padrigao is also going to play for the club alongside social media success story and San Miguel reserve Kyt Jimenez.
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Zamboanga’s full roster will be announced soon, team owner Junnie Navarro told the Inquirer. INQ
