Andray Blatche hopes to replicate past success in Dubai with Strong Group

Andray Blatche returned to the country to fortify Strong Group at the 33rd Dubai International Basketball Championship and he hopes to steer the team to the same success he had the last time he competed in the tournament.

Blatche suited up for Mighty Sports as the country's representative in the 2020 edition, where he joined forces with the likes of Renaldo Balkman, Mikey Williams, and Thirdy Ravena to dethrone the powerhouse Al Riyadi of Lebanon and emerged as the first team outside of the Middle East to cop the title.

Strong Group, meanwhile, fell to the same squad to absorb a quarterfinal exit in the 2023 edition.

Blatche is optimistic that the current team has what it takes to come out on top again in the tournament slated from January 19 to 28.

"I always feel great ever since I joined the (Philippine) team I believe in 2015," Blatche said after their two-hour training last Wednesday in Makati.

"It’s gonna be my second time going over there to this tournament in Dubai. The first year [I played] we won it, we won the championship. So hopefully we can do the same as well."

Blatche has good reason to believe this with one-time NBA champion and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, Andre Roberson, and Mckenzie Moore bolstering the team.

There's also no shortage of talent in terms of local support with reigning NCAA MVP Kevin Quiambao leading the way beside UP guard JD Cagulangan, recently-crowned MPBL MVP Justine Baltazar, and former Gilas Pilipinas playmaker Jordan Heading.

Quimbao's La Salle teammate Francis Escandor and incoming Benilde Blazers Tony Ynot, Justine Sanchez, and Allen Liwag also round out the roster.

Read more | Strong Group moves on from Mikey Williams as Dubai tourney nears

Blatche, for his part, is just ready to take on the veteran role as he looks to lead the youth-laden squad.

"Like I said, I like the young group that we have. They’re trying to learn, even when they mess up, they [say] “Sorry, sorry, sorry”, but I don’t want them to say sorry, I want them to keep on going hard and make mistakes," Blatche shared.

"That’s how you get better."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News