Alapag ready to play if needed; Blatche back

MANILA (2015 FIBA Asia Championship) - Jimmy Alapag quit international basketball after representing the Philippines at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup but the 37-year-old is practicing again and considering coming out of retirement for the FIBA Asia Championship.

Alapag has remained active in the sport, serving as the team manager of Philippines professional outfit Talk 'N Text and also working as an assistant coach to national team boss Tab Baldwin.

But uncertainty over which players will be available means that Alapag may feature in Changsha, China, when the Asia Championship is staged from 23 September-3 October.

If another call of duty serves itself then I’ll be ready. - Alapag

"Pulling this [national team] jersey out today and dusting it off a little bit, I wasn't sure if it would ever come back out," Alapag said.

"To have the opportunity to dust this thing off and put it back on is exciting especially with the talent that is composed of this particular team.

"Having this jersey has always had special meaning."

Alapag believes he can help the team on the court if called upon.

I've kept myself in shape. - Alapag

"Basketball has been a big part of my life for so long even helping manage Talk 'N Text and helping the Sinag [Gilas Cadets] team the past two months, I've kept myself in shape and you know it just so happened another opportunity came up."

The Gilas Cadets won the SEABA Championship and the SEA Games.

Andray Blatche, meanwhile, has allayed fears that he may not be able to play at the FIBA Asia Championship.

The former NBA center is practicing with his teammates in the Philippines.

He was one of the most dominant players at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain last year, a competition the Philippines took part in for the first time since 1978.

Blatche not only scored points inside and corralled rebounds, averaging 21.2 points and 13.8 rebounds.

"I feel I'm gonna do the same thing," Blatche said to the Philippines media when asked if he could replicate his form from Spain 2014.

He spent this past season playing professionally in China's CBA.

"I'm going to leave everything on the court."

Blatche has put on some weight since the end of his CBA campaign with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers.

He did so while spending time with family in the United States.

"Like I told the guys, most of my time was spent with my mom," he said.

"She was fighting cancer.

"I had a lot of time away from basketball because I had to be there for her.

"I just need this month of August and I'm ready. That's all I need."

The Philippines Basketball Association (PBA), meanwhile, announced it received a list of players that Baldwin has requested to be a part of the national squad as it prepares for the FIBA Asia Championship.

There are concerns about the fitness of some, while others have personal obligations that may prevent them from taking part.

With that in mind, other players may end up joining Gilas in their training camp.

"The door is still open," Baldwin said.

"The roster is fluid. The guys in the PBA, Boss Pato [Gregorio], Boss Chito [Salud], they've been working very hard to try and get the players we can.

"Whatever issues have a reason, they've been working hard to try and resolve the issues.

"You can't fix an injury right away. We don't have a healer in the house.

"We have to be patient with injuries and we have to be compassionate with people with personal problems."

List of requested PBA players submitted by Baldwin ahead of 2015 FIBA Asia Championship: Calvin Abueva, Jayson Castro, Gary David, June Mar Fajardo, Dondon Hontiveros, JC Intal, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Aldrech Ramos, Terrence Romeo, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Asi Taulava, LA Tenorio, Sonny Thoss and Kelly Williams.

FIBA