Blatche okay, can easily catch up despite absence from tourney absence

TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas playmaker Jayson Castro is convinced Andray Blatche can easily catch up with them despite the naturalized player missing the entire run of the 2015 Jones Cup here.

“He’s got a high basketball IQ,” said Castro of Blatche, who had to take a leave of absence from the Gilas training to attend the funeral of an uncle in the US.

“If it’s about our plays and patterns, there’s no need to worry as he knows all of what we run here (in the Jones Cup),” Castro also said. “Coach Tab has had one-on-one sessions with Dray because we run a lot of plays on him.”

Castro said a concern, if ever, is Blatche’s playing weight.

“But he’s been assuring us he’s okay. He says he plays big (as big as his current form) in China,” said Castro.

Gilas coach Tab Baldwin said it’s Blatche’s job to catch up.

“He’s to catch up and I’m sure he’ll do the best he can, catch up the best he can. Whether that will be satisfactory or not, we’ll see,” said Baldwin.

Blatche stayed just overnight here and flew out a few hours before the start of the Jones Cup competition.

He’s supposed to be back Saturday night but delayed his return for another day to still attend to his ailing mother.

He’ll be with his Gilas teammates as they fly back to Manila Monday.