MANILA — Coach Yeng Guiao on Saturday said he is likely to name his final lineup for Gilas Pilipinas’ FIBA World Cup Qualifiers game against Iran soon.
Guiao said he is likely to unveil his “chosen dozen” that will fly to Tehran for the Sept. 13 game as the national team resumes its bid for a spot in next year’s FIBA World Cup in China right after the team restarts its training at the Meralco Gym in Pasig.
“I think we can give the final lineup on Monday,” Guiao told reporters just as Gilas returned from Jakarta following its fifth place finish in the Asian Games.
“After ng practice [ilalabas] yung final lineup natin kasi magdidire-diretso na ng ensayo yun hanggang umalis (After the practice, the final lineup will be released because the trainings will be consecutive until they leave),” the concurrent NLEX mentor added,
The so-called “Gilastopainters” who played in the Asiad make up the bulk of the national pool for the fourth window of the WCQ, which includes a closed-door game against Qatar at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on September 17.
However, Jordan Clarkson will miss out on the WCQ window as he flew back to Cleveland to join the Cavaliers in their training camp.
Guiao also invited Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson and Greg Slaughter, San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter, Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang, and Blackwater’s Allein Maliksi to the Gilas practice.
Thompson and Slaughter on Friday expressed their interest to join the training, although the latter has some uncertainty regarding his eligibility.
Meanwhile, Sangalang, following the Hotshots’ victory over the NorthPort Batang Pier at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, also said yes to the national team invite. (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA)
