The final lineup for the Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team for the fourth window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers will not be unveiled in Manila.
“We’ll take all sixteen players,” Philippines head coach Yeng Guiao disclosed, Thursday evening.
The team will also bring suspended players Matthew Wright and Japeth Aguilar to Tehran, as the Philippines will also use this time to practice for their September 17 home game against Qatar. The Philippines takes on Iran on September 14.
“Yung dalawang suspended ‘di makakalaro, kaya lang kailangan namin sila doon para magtuloy-tuloy yung practice,” added Guiao.
“There’s no real urgency to name the twelve guys. So we’ll stick with the sixteen as for now.”
The deadline for the submission of lineup is 48 hours before tip-off.
On the other hand, Guiao and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are still in the dark over Greg Slaughter’s FIBA status. The 7-foot slotman from Cebu did not participate in the session as a precautionary measure for the ankle sprain he sustained when the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel faced the Northport Batang Pier last night.
“We’re still in limbo with regards to the status of Greg. We’re just waiting for that,” admitted Guiao.
“We hope it’s announced before we leave.”
