Philippines, 16 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


How much is there left of the old Dray Blatche?


PhilBoxing.com



Blatche.
OF the three top-seeded teams in the ongoing Fiba Asia championship in China, only the Philippines advances to the next round with a blemished record. Not a simple rash, a black-eye, in fact.

Defending champion Iran and resurgent powerhouse China are unbeaten; the Philippines is 2-1 going into today?s second round.

After an embarassing first-day loss to tournament first-timer Palestine, the Philippines swept its remaining preliminary assignments, against Hong Kong and Kuwait, with overwhelming one-sided results.

**

These two victories were celebrated by many Filipino fans, including certain members of the local media present in the Chnagsha tournament, as though the nightmare against Palentine could only serve as timely wake-up call : The relentless wins redeemed Gilas Pilipinas, and erased every bit of doubt.

As for national coach Tad Bladwin, who had said before they left Manila that Gilas would be ready to take control and dominate, he claimed they now know better.

Baldwin also said they saw what they needed to see, learned what they have to know.

**

Baldwin failed to state if he knew where they were headed next .
The second round of the continental Olympic qualifying tournament has Gilas Pilipinas grouped with Japan, Iran and India.

The Philippine national team faces these three, one after the other, in that order, starting today.

**

Of course, Gilas Pilipinas need not be reminded about the great dangers lying in the next round.

Premier guard Jason Castro has stepped up as Gilas take-charge guy.

Naturalized Gilas center Andray Blatche said they?ve got to execute better than they did in the preliminary round.

**

Said Blatche: ?I am worried about us, worried about how we come out and play, execute.?

Blatche did not specify, but he was definitely also worried about himself.

Reason: There was nothing of the amazing NBA veteran, who had starred for Gilas Pilipinas in last year?s Fiba World Cup, in any of the games his outfit has thus far played in the China tournament.

**

Blatche was in the game against Palestine only in the first quarter, which he dominated--soaring, rebounding, scoring?to lead Gilas to an early 16-point lead.

He was caught napping during at least two crucial tussels under the Palestine basket, and thus yielded two offensive boards that were readily converted.

Visibly fagged out in the final minutes, he was caught huffing on far left court, from where he fired a desperate slow-rising three-pointer that was deflected.

**

With his underwhelming result against Palestine, Blatche, lookng trim but definitely not fully recovered from the crash weight reduction he had to undergo, was fielded sparingly in the games against Hong Kong and Kuwait.

It?s like this: Blatche, who should have started a weight loss regimen ahead, failed to play for Gilas in the Jones Cup. He was with the team in Taipei but had to fly back home due to the death of a beloved uncle.

He did return to Manila and played in the MVP Cup where he was described, no thanks to a bloated tummy, as though on the family way.

**

It?s no secret how Blatche had been made to lose more than 20 pounds in a ten-day period, capped by the secluded build-up camp in Cebu, in time for the Fiba Asia tournament.

As one sports medicine expert would confide, Blatche could?ve prospered and peaked properly, if the weight reduction had been done gradually, with competent medical assistance.

The effects of the merciless weight cut, the expert said, could be severely debilitating as an unplanned abortion.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
    , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • Mendoza bags bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 16 Oct 2025
  • YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • Unbeaten Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes Set for Return on October 18 Against Derlyn Hernandez-Geraldo in Long Beach
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • JOEL “LETHAL” LEWIS RETURNS NOV 28TH THUNDERDOME 52 – METRO CITY PERTH
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • Shane Mosley Sr. Blasts Oscar De La Hoya of Blocking Son’s Title Shot, Calls for Trilogy Fight on Drew & Pris Uncensored podcast
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • MASOUD vs McGRAIL HEADLINES BLOCKBUSTER MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI CARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • WFM Mendoza seizes lead in 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • YOENLI HERNANDEZ KNOCKS OUT RAMON DELACRUZ SENA IN FIRST ROUND OF MAIN EVENT OF FISTS OF FURY 8
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • BEN WHITTAKER TITLE SHOT CONFIRMED WITH PRESS CONFERENCE THIS FRIDAY
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP TO BOOST AMATEUR TALENT IN CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • SHANNON RYAN: I'M READY TO BRING 'KAOS' TO YORK HALL THIS WEEK
    , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • Nikita Tszyu Health Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 15 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 13 OCTOBER 2025: Ennis Wipes Out Lima; Vianello Defeats Barriere; Makhmudov Outpoits Allen
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 14 Oct 2025
  • Omar Juarez Set for Homecoming Clash Against Omar Rosario on October 18 i
    , Tue, 14 Oct 2025
  • BLAZEN ROCILI, THE 6’3” FILIPINO GIANT, SCORES DOMINANT 2ND-ROUND TKO OVER ORLANDO SALGADO IN AURORA, COLORADO
    , Tue, 14 Oct 2025
  • YORK HALL FIGHT WEEK SCHEDULE CONFIRMED AS KIERON CONWAY VOWS TO TEACH 'OVER CONFIDENT' RIVAL GEORGE LIDDARD A LESSON
    , Tue, 14 Oct 2025
  • Pedro Veitia Set to Face Fellow Unbeaten Xavier Ceron on October 18 in Texas, Live on DAZN
    , Tue, 14 Oct 2025
  • Jesse Espinas Victorious, New IBF Asia Champion
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Naseem Hamed Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Kiddie Chess Tournament Goes to Farmers Plaza
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao vs. Rolly Romero in January 2026? Boxing Legend Eyes One More Run at Glory
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.