MANILA, Philippines - The 17th Asian Games is just around the corner and there’s no certainty whether or not Andray Blatche and two other Gilas players can don their uniforms in Incheon.
The Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday said the latest communication it received from the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee was not positive at all.
“I don’t know,” said POC president Jose Cojuangco when asked if there was a good chance that Blatche will be allowed to play together with Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger.
Blatche, who played for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA, became a naturalized Filipino last June, and was allowed to play for the Philippines in the ongoing FIBA World Cup in Spain.
Norwood and Dillinger, also part of the Gilas lineup, have Filipino blood and both have been playing in the Philippine Basketball Association for quite some time now.
Yet, the Asian Games organizers continue to question their eligibility, citing certain articles that require a longer period of residency before they are allowed to play in the Asian Games.
“We just received a communication and it remained unresolved. The decision may now fall on the Olympic Council of Asia,” said Cojuangco.
The POC chief was drafting another letter yesterday addressed to the OCA president, Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah, regarding the sensitive issue.
If Blatche, Norwood and Dillinger are barred from playing in Incheon, the Philippines will suffer a severe blow in its bid to break a long dry spell in basketball in the Asian Games.
The Philippines last won the basketball gold in the Asiad in 1962, and the last time it brought a medal home, a bronze, was in 1998.
Officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas headed by Manny V. Pangilinan are confident that this is the best chance for the Philippines to win a medal in the Asian Games.
Last year, Gilas finally brought down fierce rival South Korea in a basketball game, and went on to finish second behind mighty Iran in the FIBA Asia Cup.
As host, South Korea is also going for the gold medal in basketball in this year’s Asian Games.
Cojuangco has developed strong ties with the OCA head but admitted that this is no assurance that the latter will favor the Philippines.
“The Sheikh is fair and I’m sure he will balance the situation and try to view what is acceptable to both parties. I’m confident that whatever his decision is, it will be fair,” said Cojuangco.
The POC will treat the Philippine delegation to Incheon to a send-off party tonight at the Philsports Complex.
“For the first time, President Aquino said he’s coming,” said Cojuangco, an uncle of the Chief Executive.
The chef-de-mission of the Philippine delegation to Incheon is also keeping his fingers crossed that Blatche and the two others will be allowed to play.