CHENZHOU (FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017) - After days of speculation, China Kashgar's Andray Blatche has finally arrived in Chenzhou today for the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2017.

The big question however is if the 2.11m center immediately will suit up for the defending champions when they battle the Lebanese in a battle of the only remaining undefeated clubs in the competition?

Blatche is coming off of months of relative inactivity. His last competitive tournaments was the SEABA Championship 2017 in Manila, which ended on 18 May. He has yet to attend a single practice session of China Kashgar and does not yet look to be in prime game shape.

Still, the game against Al Riyadi carries significant repercussions. The winner ascends to the peak of Group B and faces the fourth place team from Group A in the crossover Quarter-Finals. Needless to say, the victor will have a smoother path to the Semi-Finals. In addition, this is a rematch of the two teams that faced each other in last year's Final, and Al Riyadi, for one, are certainly looking for a measure of payback.

If Blatche does see action, he should give Kashgar a huge boost in terms of size and versatility, but he may also be a liability in terms of conditioning and chemistry. We will have to wait and see.

FIBA