From 21 to 16 to 13, and now down to 12.
Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo have the task of leading Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.
The tournament begins on August 25 at the Philippines Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Both Fajardo and Aguilar were part of the 2014 and 2019 Gilas teams that competed in Spain and China.
Also making their second World Cup appearances are Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, and Roger Pogoy – all of whom were part of the 2019 team as well.
The twin tower combination of Kai Sotto and AJ Edu, the two young stalwarts who led Gilas to the World Cup in the juniors level, will make their seniors Worlds debut.
Competing the Gilas cast are World Cup debutants Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Rhenz Abando, and, of course, the ace of the host, Jordan Clarkson.
The first three cuts were made on Tuesday. Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., and Calvin Oftana did not attend the team’s final practice at Philsports Arena before they take on the Dominican Republic on Friday.
Thirdy and Parks did not play a single game in Gilas’ official World Cup preparation games against the Ivory Coast, Montenegro, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, Oftana and Newsome alternated spots during those three games.
Newsome was the final cut.
Previously part of the 21-man pool were Justin Brownlee, Angelo Kouame, Carl Tamayo, Jordan Heading, and Poy Erram.
