Blatche at Tautuaa sumipot sa practice

MANILA, Philippines - Matapos magpahinga ng dalawang araw dahil sa kanyang slight groin injury ay muling bumalik si naturalized player Andray Blatche sa ensayo ng Gilas Pilipinas noong Huwebes ng gabi sa Meralco Gym sa Pasig.

“Blatche is back. He’s joined five-on-five slowly,” wika ni team manager Butch Antonio kay Blatche na nagpahinga noong Martes at Miyekules.

Bagama’t may nararamdaman pang sakit ay naki-pag-ensayo pa rin ang 6-foot-11 na si Blatche.

“He’s hard to keep off the court, which I love,” wika ni coach Tab Baldwin. “But he’s got to take care of himself.”

Kasalukuyan ding may mga injury at sakit sina Ranidel de Ocampo (pulled hamstring), Dondon Hontiveros (strained calf) at Terrence Romeo (trangkaso).

Ikinatuwa rin nina Baldwin at Antonio ang pagsama ni pro-bound Moala Tautuaa sa training ng national pool.

“He’s another example of a kid who makes the sacrifice, which he really doesn’t have to. I’m so proud of him,” sabi ni Baldwin kay Tautuaa.

“It’s fantastic to see him out there. He did really great out there. Our training was designed to be a review to help him get up to speed, and he learned it real quickly,” dagdag pa nito.

Ang 6’7 na si Tautuaa ang prospective top pick ng Talk ‘N Text sa dara-ting na 2015 PBA Rookie Draft.

Pumayag si Tautuaa na maging practice player at “Plan B” (naturalized player backup) ng natio-nal team program ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

Isang dominanteng sentro sa PBA D-League, ang ina ni Tautuaa ay Filipina at ang kanyang ama ay isang Tongan.

Ngunit siya ay naturalized player sa ilalim ng bagong FIBA rules.