Thursday afternoon, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao held the last practice for the Asian Games squad in Jakarta.
On Monday evening, Guiao will hold his first practice for the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers’ second round.
With FIBA hammering suspensions on nine of the 12 players who played during Gilas’ home game against Australia last July 2, the national team and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas are left with few players from the current pool. But the Philippine Basketball Association reiterated that the whole league is the pool from now until the World Cup.
With this, Guiao disclosed that he wants to invite three top-tier guards for Monday’s session – Scottie Thompson, Marcio Lassiter, and Alex Cabagnot.
“I haven’t talked to them so it’s still their choice, but they will be invited,” shared Guiao.
“Nasabi ko na, na si Marcio, si Alex, sila Scottie Thompson, so far ‘yun lang muna.”
Others invited by Guiao are the core of the team currently competing in the continental meet. The Philippines takes on Syria in the match for 5th place.
Cabagnot has yet to play for any iteration of the national team, while Lassiter was part of the first edition of Gilas Pilipinas.
On the other hand, Thompson, the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Most Valuable Player, was part of the 2015 SEA Games team that won gold in Singapore.
Gilas faces Iran on the road on September 13 before hosting Qatar in a closed-door home game on September 17.
Guiao will coach both games as Chot Reyes is serving a suspension.
