Blatche vows wins vs Japan, Taipei

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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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MANILA – Now back on board, naturalized center Andray Blatche promised to help Gilas Pilipinas sweep its FIBA World Cup qualifiers matches against Japan and Chinese-Taipei.

Winning their first two games is a must ahead of their tough face-off with 2017 FIBA Asia Cup champion Australia in February, according to the 6-foot-11 center.

“I’m just looking forward to winning. Wherever we are, our main focus is winning,” Blatche said. “So we’ll go to Japan, get a win, come back here and get a win. That’s the goal.”

The former Brooklyn Nets center arrived in the Philippines on Sunday and attended team practices that day and yesterday.

“I’m great. I’m in good shape so, you know, I’ve been playing overseas in China. I’m just trying to get back from my calf injury and be back on the court and playing,” Blatche said.

“We had a practice earlier, so it was pretty much comfortable with the offense, the defense, and the players and the coaching staff, so it’s a quick adjustment for me,” he added.

The 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier will be on Nov. 24 in China.

Gilas will open its campaign for the qualifier against Japan at the Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Gymnasium in Tokyo before facing Chinese Taipei on Nov. 27 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum./PN
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