Mananatili si Andre Blatche bilang miyembro ng Gilas Pilipinas na target ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) na maihanda ng maaga para sa pagsabak sa 2019 World Cup kung saan nakataya ang eksklusibong silya para sa inaasam na 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Ito ang sinabi ni SBP Executive Director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios sa pagdalo kasama si SBP Deputy Executive Director for International Affairs Butch Antonio sa lingguhang Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) forum sa Shakey’s, Malate.

“Let’s not take Andre (Blatche) out of the equation, he is still a Filipino,” sabi ni Antonio. “In fact after the Olympic Qualifying Team (OQT), we discuss everything and he promised to be with the team as much as it will not run in conflict should he able to make it back to the NBA.”

Nakatuon naman ang SBP na maisaayos ang buong programa nito para sa 2019 World Cup na gaganapin sa China.

'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!

'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!

“Malungkot dahil hindi tayo nakalampas sa semis but we are moving on towards 2019 World Cup,” aniya.

“We are now making plans on continuing with the Gilas program 5.0. We had started meeting with SBP, also identifying talent that can augment the pool, it may be a hybrid or mixture on non-PBA or PBA maybe,” aniya.

Isasama na rin sa plano para sa Gilas 5.0 ang lahat ng mga lehitimong torneo na nakalinya sa SBP katulad sa 2017 SEA Games sa Malaysia, ang FIBA Asia Challenge Cup, ang 2018 Asian Games sa Indonesia at ang 2019 SEA Games na gaganapin sa Maynila.

“We are now identifying talent and closely looking on all tournaments that is everything in between of 2019 World Cup like the FIBA Asia Challenge Cup, 2018 Asian Games. Lahat iyun ay tatargetin na namin as well as other sport under MVP group,” pahayag ni Antonio.

“Hindi na ganoon kadali ang tournament under the home and away format. Reality is hindi na puwedeng maglaro ang ating mga PBA players so we are looking at DLeague players. Lahat pinag-aaralan natin and we don’t want also to become a too often disruption sa PBA.” (Angie Oredo)