PHI - Senate gives thumbs-up to Blatche citizenship bill

MANILA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Philippines national team coach Chot Reyes looks set to have Andray Blatche in his squad for the FIBA Basketball World Cup with a bill to grant the Brooklyn Nets center citizenship having been approved the Senate.

There is still another step to be taken before Blatche becomes an adopted Filipino.

According to Filipino Senator Sonny Angara, who sponsored the bill, the documentation will be presented to President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and once he signs it, Blatche's citizenship will be official.

That looks to be a formality with the Senate on Monday having approved the Blatche bill with 20 yes votes, no negative votes and no abstentions.

Angara has spoken to The Philippine Star about the importance of having Blatche in the national team.

"Andray Blatche has openly expressed his desire to play for the Philippines," Angara said.

"He is in a position, at age 28, to make significant contributions to Philippine basketball and accordingly, eligible for the conferment of the honor of being a Philippine citizen.

"Blatche is possibly the best center from the NBA that we can get who is willing to shun more lucrative offers now and in the future just to be part of our national team."

The 2.11m Blatche will be a giant in the paint for the Philippines, who are going to take on Argentina, Greece, Croatia, Senegal and Puerto Rico in Sevilla's Group B of the World Cup.

Blatche has eight years of NBA experience under his belt.

He averaged 11.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in the regular season for Brooklyn, while in the playoffs those numbers dipped to 6.4ppg and 5.0rpg.

The 27-year-old only recently played for the Nets in the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Philippines are among the surprise packages at the World Cup.

Their last appearance at a FIBA World Championship was in 1978, when the country hosted the event.

FIBA