NBA veteran Andray Blatche will not suit-up for the Philippines in the William Jones Cup 2015 in Taipei Taiwan. The former Nets center will miss the remaining games of Pilipinas Basketball in the Jones Cup and will be back late Sunday. The lone naturalized player of the Philippine Basketball Team will not be available as Gilas takes on USA Select and Taiwan B NT.

Andray abruptly ended his training with Gilas national team to be with his sick mother and to attend the funeral of his uncle. According to PhilStar.com, he was supposed to book a flight and return Saturday to join the team here in Taipei, but had at the last minute rebooked to accompany his mom.

Moala Tautuaa ably held the fort of Gilas as temporary replacement of Blatche in the Jones Cup. The number one draft pick of Talk N Text in the PBA proved that he can play with the big men of international basketball. Unfortunately, Tautuaa may be limited to play only in unsanctioned tournaments with Gilas as long as Blatche is available. Mo is ineligible to play as natural Filipino in FIBA sanctioned games since he wasn’t able to declare his Filipino citizenship before the age of 16. Such declaration is now a vital requirement for players in all national teams.

It is also highly suspect if Andray will be in perfect shape in no time for the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship 2015. Blatche was visibly sluggish in the Estonia pocket tourney and not rejoining Gilas in Jones Cup may be much more detrimental to his physical fitness.

He can however still join RP Five in the MVP Cup in Manila on September 11-13. New Zealand and Taiwan NT will be joining that pocket tournament. Middle eastern powerhouse Lebanon withdrew earlier from the MVP Cup.