Leaving no stones unturned for their preparation for the final window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Gilas Pilipinas will just have 14 players in its pool.
Monday afternoon, the Samahang Baskebol ng Pilipinas released the final 14 that will take on Qatar on February 21 in Doha and Kazakhstan on February 24 in Astona.
The surprise call-up is 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup Finals Most Valuable Player Mark Barroca.
Barroca was part of the first-ever Gilas lineup during the late 2000s.
Joining Barroca in the backcourt are Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, Scottie Thompson, Roger Pogoy, and Marcio Lassiter.
Pogoy is ineligible to play against Qatar, as he still has one game left in his suspension stemming from the Gilas-Australia brawl last July.
Also making his return to Gilas is Andray Blatche. He, together with Christian Standhardinger, will alternate as the team’s naturalized player.
Completing the cast are Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, JP Erram, June Mar Fajardo, and Raymond Almazan.
Gilas, who have a 5-5 standing in Group F, cannot afford to lose a game in the sixth window.
