Can stat-stuffing return to Gilas by Andray Blatche spark big time debut for China's Zhou Qi?

AMMAN (Jordan) - As hosts of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, China aren’t as worried about the other teams at the Asian Qualifiers as the rest of the playing field. However, there still a lot to play for especially with a big name like Zhou Qi poised to make a much-awaited Asian Qualifiers debut.

Qi might be additionally motivated to put up a big game in his return to the national team after seeing former teammate Andray Blatche come close to racking up a triple-double for the Philippines. Blatche had missed out the previous 4 games of play in the Asia Qualifiers, but put up 17 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists in his first game back with Gilas. Both Qi and Blatche were teammates on China Kashgar during the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2016, which was the last major FIBA event that Qi had participated in.

There is no doubt that the two shared some good memories together after winning the club competition title that year.

The last time the two Asian stars clashed was at the FIBA Asia Cup 2015 finals with a trip to the 2016 Olympics in London on the line. Qi ended up with 16 points and 14 boards along with the import win while Blatche finished with 17 points and 5 rebounds on his end.

These two players with NBA experience won’t get a chance to play against each other here at the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, but a highly productive outing in his national team return from Blatche might very well spark a fire for Qi to do the same.

Qi will be leading a relatively young China squad into their final two games. The first of which will be against Jordan in Amman on February 22 at the Prince Hamza Arena before their wrap things up against Syria at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Zouk Mikael, Lebanon.

FIBA