By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) released its 19-man pool that will grind it out for a spot in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff will have a hard time as they have a bountiful of talents to choose from to finally form the final 12 roster that will play for the country against global basketball giants.
Gilas pioneers Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, and Japeth Aguilar spearhead the list.
Also part of the pool are Gilas warriors that represented the country in the previous window qualifiers: Roger Pogoy, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Mark Barroca, Matthew Wright, Poy Erram, Raymond Almazan, Troy Rosario, and Ilonggo cage star Kiefer Ravena.
Beau Belga, Stanley Pringle, Christian Standhardinger, Cj Perez, and Robert Bolick completed the 19-man lineup.
Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson was also added, in hopes that the FIBA committee will allow him to play as a local.
On the contrary, if FIBA does not allow Clarkson to suit up as a local, he will be a back-up naturalized player for the squad.
Gilas Pilipinas will ball out with the best teams in the world on August 31, 2019 in China.
