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| Andray Blatche looks to bounce back from match fitness mishaps in next year's DIBC according to SGA head coach Charles Tiu. Strong Group Athletics (file photo) |
BATANGAS CITY—Andray Blatche looks to atone for himself after match fitness issues affected his performance in the past Dubai International Basketball Championship.
Strong Group Athletics head coach Charles Tiu confirmed to Dugout Philippines a report from All-Star Magazine's Naveen Ganglani that Blatche is returning to the team for next year's DIBC from Jan. 24-Feb. 2, vowing to join the team in better shape in their quest to win it all after he came in too bulked up earlier this year.
"He has some unfinished business. He told me he wants one last run. He wasn't in great shape last year, and he knows it. He's been working out trying to get in shape right now. I'm excited to see him, and I hope he'll be in better shape this year. Obviously, if he's in shape, we're a different team," Tiu, also Converge's lead assistant coach, said after his PBA team's huge win against Ginebra on Saturday night at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.
Blatche, whose game shape has been scrutinized since his Gilas Pilipinas days, seemed way out of shape and struggled during his SGA stint earlier this year as the team settled for second place in the DIBC, losing to Al-Riyadi on an Ismail Ahmed's buzzer-beater in the final.
The 6-foot-11 center-power forward is teaming up with fellow former NBA veteran DeMarcus Cousins, while fellow Gilas naturalized player Ange Kouame, as Tiu also confirmed, is also jumping in, forming a triple tower inside the shaded lane.
Despite that, Tiu is keeping a conservative approach to SGA's chances for the DIBC especially since he revealed that they will only have a short window for their training camp.
"We'll have to see how we look in practice. Obviously, we're gonna be the team with the shortest preparation—10 days only—so we have to find a way to compete and jell as a team," Tiu continued.
"It's always short because the guys are coming in late. It's always been one of our challenges, but no excuses. We'll just have to be ready."
SGA's DIBC lineup is currently in the building phase with only Cousins, Blatche, Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, and Allen Liwag confirmed to be in.
SGA is expected to name the rest of the roster in the coming days.
"When I finish my roster, then we'll see how it looks," Tiu further said.
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