ANDRAY Blatche has apologized to Gilas Pilipinas and to the Australian national team for his involvement in Monday’s Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Through his Instagram account, Blatche expressed regret over the incident, saying his decision to join in the brawl was only to protect his teammate RR Pogoy, who was on the receiving end of an elbow to the face from Daniel Kickert.
Blatche was one of the first to come to the aid of Pogoy, throwing punches at Kickert as well as Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker, before several players joined the fray.
Blatche along with eight other Gilas Pilipinas players and four players from Australia were ejected from the match.
“Can’t stop thinking about last night’s game. The way we reacted was only to protect our brother. That’s how we are as a team, family. I see one of my brother hit and wrong decisions was made in the heat of the moment,” wrote Blatche.
“It was a very high intensity game with a lot of emotions that fight and all our actions is not what me or my brothers stand for. Anyone who knows us knows we are a happy goofy group of guys. Things just made a bad turn and I want to apologize to my teammates and the Australia team for my wrong doings,” Blatche added.
Blatche said he also regrets his actions because he doesn’t want his son to do the same.
“I have a son and that’s not what I want him to follow behind,” Blatche added.
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