It looks like Gilas Pilipinas’ 12-man team for the fifth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers is nearly complete.
National team head coach Yeng Guiao bared that he already has in his mind half of the squad that will play in the Asian Qualifiers’ fifth window from November 30 to December 3, where they will battle Kazakhstan and Iran, respectively.
The decorated tactician said so on Friday night, moments after the Filipino dribblers lost a close one to Lebanon, 68-74, in a tune-up game at the Epsilon Chi Health and Fitness Center inside the UP campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
“Kalahati ng team naman, medyo maliwanag na,” said Guiao.
Guiao has at his disposal a pool so talented that it can really make a coach pull off tough decisions — this current 20-man pool has generally been called the best ever put up the moment names were announced last November 6.
Guiao could possibly build a team that will feature a towering frontline with June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Poy Erram, and Greg Slaughter, with a great mix of guards such as Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, and Jayson Castro.
The pool also has Paul Lee, Beau Belga, Gabe Norwood, Scottie Thompson, LA Tenorio, Matthew Wright, Arwind Santos, Troy Rosario, Ian Sangalang, and naturalized players Stanley Pringle and Christian Standhardinger.
The pool, moreover, features young guns in UP Fighting Maroons commit Ricci Rivero and Ateneo Blue Eaglets’ 7-footer Kai Sotto, which Guiao has said before is their investment for the future of Philippine basketball.
Guiao, however, doesn’t want to name names yet.
“Ayoko makita o ma-speculate kaagad natin kung sino yung mga yun, but pero there are five or six guys who are shoo-ins, and then half of the team, myself and the coaching staff will have to make the assessment and evaluations,” said the 59-year-old coach.
“‘Pag sinabi ko yun, malalaman niyo na din kung sino ang hindi shoo-in.”
