The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Monday night unveiled the 19-man pool from where the members of the Philippine national squad in the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup shall be chosen.
National team head coach Yeng Guiao revealed after Gilas Pilipinas practice the 19 players led by naturalized player Andray Blatche and Filipino-American guard Jordan Clarkson of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Only one of Blatche, Pringle, and Standhardinger will make the lineup. The case of Clarkson is still tricky as he’s still considered as a naturalized player. Gilas hopes Clarkson to count as a local so he can pair with Blatche for a dream national team tandem.
In addition to Blatche, Pringle and Clarkson, the pool also includes rreigning PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer, along with Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle, both of whom have played as naturalized players in the past for the national team.
Also in the Gilas pool released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, Beau Belga, Robert Bolick, Poy Erram, June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, CJ Perez, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Matthew Wright, and the returning Kiefer Ravena.
The pool will be cut down to 12 for the FIBA World Cup where Gilas will take on Serbia, Italy, and Angola in group play.
“It’s a pool from where we will pick the Final 12 once we get close to the FIBA World Cup,” Guiao disclosed.
