By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE FINAL roster of the Philippine men’s national basketball team for the FIBA World Cup 2019 was unveiled on Sunday night after deliberations which head coach Yeng Guiao said were anything but easy.

After weeks of preparations and seeing which combination of players suited the team’s push for the basketball spectacle which is commencing later this week in China, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) made known the names of the final 12 players making up Gilas Pilipinas from a pool of 19.

Selected for the team were Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, naturalized player Andray Blatche, Robert Bolick, June Mar Fajardo, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena and Troy Rosario.

Left out were naturalized players Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, Marcio Lassiter, Beau Belga, Matthew Wright and Poy Erram as well as Filipino-American National Basketball Association guard Jordan Clarkson.

Seeing the efforts that the players put in during the weeks of preparation, Mr. Guiao said they had a hard time narrowing the list down but were satisfied with what they came up with, which had the nod of SBP officials, particularly chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and president Al Panlilio.

“It was tough deliberating on the final roster. We had been talking about it in the previous days. There were circumstances that also played in the decision making,” Mr. Guiao shared to members of media following their final tune-up game with the visiting Adelaide 36ers on Sunday where they lost, 85-75.

“We took into consideration what the players put in right from the start of the preparation all the way to the final day before the selection. Factored in was the health of the players. Also factored in was the cohesion that they provided with the rest of the team,” added the Gilas coach.

Messrs. Blatche, Fajardo, Lee, Aguilar and Norwood make another World Cup tour of duty after being part of the 2014 Gilas team that saw action in Spain.

Qualifier staples Rosario, Pogoy, Barroca, Almazan and Ravena, who saw his 18-month FIBA suspension lapse at the weekend, are called upon anew to represent.

Making their debut for the Gilas men’s team are Messrs. Perez and Bolick.

Messrs. Wright (tendon) and Erram (ankle) were strongly in the running for a spot in the final 12 until injuries hit them at the tailend of the preparation. Also out because of injury is Mr. Lassiter (knee).

Gilas had a break on Monday to give the players time to rest and spend time with their families.

It will practice today and tomorrow before leaving Thursday morning for China where it will continue practicing.

The FIBA World Cup happens from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15.

The Philippines, which is making its second straight appearance, is bracketed in Group D along with Serbia, Italy and Angola in the opening round. It begins its campaign on opening day versus Italy.

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