Limping Blatche leads Gilas Pilipinas over Japan 73-66

Naturalized Filipino Andray Blatche scored big in the end game against Japanto lead Gilas Pilipinas' 73-66 first victory in the second round of the FIBA Asia Championship 2015 in Shangsha, China Sunday.Blatche played through an ankle injury he sustained in the first half of a close match game with Japan ahead by about seven pointsuntil veteran Jason Castro Williams,Asi The Rock Taulava,Terrence The terrible Romeo and Calvin The Beast Abueva took over, scoring 10-0 run.Coach Tab Baldwin had to bring Blatche to the bench as he has been limping since.Abueva, Romeo and Castro took turns in offense turning the score in favor of Gilas. Abueva's dare devil slash-and-draw-fouls provide the heat that Baldwin has been looking from his wards.Romeo's speed and three-point shotshave also added fire to Gilas as against the grittyJapan's run-and-gun game.However, Filipinos and Gilas players held their breaths after Baldwin kept Blatche on the floor despite his ankle injury. That injury, although obviously endured by the NBA veteran,almost cost Gilas victory as Blatche had committed several errors and turn overs.But Puso prevailed upon him as Blatche suddenly stopped limping and scored big at the homestretch.Gabe Norwood andRaniedel DeOcampo also provided the needed firepower.Blatche scored 18 points and 10 rebounds while DeOcampo score 13 points, including a trey at the end game that gave Gilas comfortable lead with the Japanese in foul trouble.Castro and Romeo score 12 a piece while Abueva made 10 points.Gilas Pilipinas which won three in a row after bowing to Palestine in the FIBA opener is set to face the tougher, taller and experienced Iran squad tomorrow, Monday at 11:45 a.m.The Iranians remained undefeated. It blasted Hong Kong earlier 111-56.