IF Dwight Howard is eyeing a possible PBA stint, it’s the opposite for fellow former NBA player Andray Blatche.
The Gilas Pilipinas naturalized player disclosed he’s no longer looking forward suiting up in Asia’s pioneering pro league after being turned down several times in the past.
Blatche, now 37, is back in the country to play for the Strong Group Athletics in the coming Dubai International Basketball Championship, and was naturally asked if he intends to have a career in the PBA.
But spurned in the past, he’s not looking forward of making things happen right now.
Blatche: 'They wouldn't let me play'
“I’ve been trying to get in the PBA for years and they would not let me play,” said Blatche with huge smile on his face.
“I don’t think it would happen.”
The PBA doesn’t allow naturalized players to play as local in the league.
At most, the 48-year-old league only let them suit up as imports as in the case of another naturalized player in Marcus Douthit, who reinforced Air21 and Blackwater during the 2012 and 2015 Commissioner’s Cup, respectively.
Another naturalized player in Justin Brownlee serves resident import for Barangay Ginebra.
During his time with the men’s national team, there were talks of Blatche being tapped by TNT as its import although the plan eventually didn’t pan out.
Howard eyes PBA stint
Howard, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year who will also play with Strong Group Athletics, has expressed interest in playing in the PBA, and even insisted he’s just 6-foot-9 flat and therefore, eligible to play in the mid-season conference that has a height limit of 6-foot-9 and below.
While the 37-year-old Howard is hopeful the league would consider him to play here as an import, Blatche is no longer optimistic about a PBA stint.
“I gave up hope. I gave up hope,” he repeatedly said.
Blatche though, said he might personally check out on some of the PBA games before Strong Group leaves for Dubai by next week.
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