Gilas chases FIBA deadline

MANILA, Philippines - The SBP has until July 15 to turn in Andray Blatche’s naturalization documents and Philippine passport to make the FIBA deadline of submitting the 24-man roster for the World Cup in Spain on Aug. 30-Sept. 14. Failure to transmit Blatche’s papers will carry a fine of $28,000 and may rule the Brooklyn Nets center ineligible to play for the Philippines in the country’s first appearance on the global stage in 36 years.

Blatche’s naturalization is now undergoing legislative process. Congress approved Rep. Robbie Puno’s bill to naturalize Blatche on third and final reading last Monday. To get to the plenary, the bill had to pass through the Justice Committee chaired by Rep. Neil Tupas, Jr. Now, it’s the Senate’s turn to approve the application. Sen. Sonny Angara filed Bill No. 2108 last Feb. 5 and like in Congress, will be reviewed by the Justice Committee chaired by Sen. Koko Pimentel before presentation to and approval by the Upper House on third and final reading. The Congress and Senate bills will then be consolidated and submitted to President Aquino for the last go-signal.

The estimate is the whole process will take until May. Once the naturalization is approved, the SBP will begin the documentation process and gather the papers that FIBA requires to make the July 15 deadline. Among the required documents are the naturalized player’s new nationality ID, excerpt from the Philippine law explaining the naturalization process and a letter of certification certifying the legality of the naturalization, presumably from the Department of Justice.

While the process is ongoing, Blatche continues to post impressive numbers as the Nets’ sixth man in the NBA. Last Wednesday, he was one of four Nets to score in double figures as Brooklyn nipped defending champion Miami, 96-95, on the Heat homecourt. It was Brooklyn’s third straight win over Miami without a loss this season and fifth consecutive counting two preseason games.

After the win over Miami, Brooklyn improved to 33-30, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference where the top eight teams advance to the playoffs. Blatche, 27, is averaging 11.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 22.3 minutes in 57 games, including six starts, with the Nets this season. Against the Heat last Wednesday, Blatche compiled 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, one blocked shot and one turnover in 25:58 minutes off the bench.

An eight-year pro, Blatche went straight from high school into the NBA as the Washington Wizards’ second round pick in the 2005 draft. His first Wizards contract was for $1.06 Million over two years. In 2007, he was inked to a five-year $20.6 Million deal and in 2010, signed a $35 Million extension up to 2014-15. In 2012, the Wizards designated Blatche as an amnesty player, guaranteeing $23.4 Million left on his contract but waiving him to clear room in their salary cap. Blatche then rejected a bid to join Miami and signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Nets for $2.8 Million over two years. Blatche has a player option for next season and will decide whether or not to exercise it by June 30.

Ironically, Blatche’s best stats came at the Nets’ expense when he played for the Wizards in 2009-10. He shot 36 points on 17-of-31 field goals in Washington’s 89-85 win over the Nets and almost had a triple double with 20 points, nine rebounds and 13 assists in a 109-99 decision over the same Nets that season. In seven years with the Wizards, Blatche averaged close to 10 points a game.

Last season, Blatche averaged 10.3 points in 82 games for the Nets, compiling 42 double-digit scoring games and seven double-doubles. He fired at least 20 points in six outings. Chicago coach Tom Thibodeaux said there’s no doubt that Blatche is skilled, can shoot the ball, put it on the floor, post it and get to the offensive board.

What Gilas coach Chot Reyes likes about Blatche is his ability to score. He said if Blatche can consistently deliver 30 points every game and Gilas’ outside shooters are on target, the Philippines has a chance to pull the rug from under at least two teams in Group B of the FIBA World Cup. Two wins in the preliminaries will catapult Gilas into the knockout round-of-16 in Madrid.