FIBA announces Andray Blatche citizenship approved, will play for Philippines

The FIBA World Cup will take place in Spain and tips off on Aug. 30. and Brooklyn Nets center Andray Blatche will be suiting up for the Philippine National team after becoming a citizen of the Philippines.

The senate unanimously approved Blatche’s bill and the only remaining step is for the country’s president to sign it via Fiba.com.

“Andray Blatche has openly expressed his desire to play for the Philippines,” Filipino Senator Sonny Angara said about the case, via FIBA.com. “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.”

There should be a ton of  “Blatching” going on this summer so buckle up international fans as the Philippines will be playing Argentina, Greece, Croatia, Senegal and Puerto Rico in Sevilla’s Group B of the World Cup.

Blatche is an unrestricted free agent and will look to cash in on his two productive and image saving seasons in Brooklyn but says his first priority is to stay with the Nets.