Gilas Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao revealed the 20-man pool for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Tuesday.
Guiao named a number of players who played under him in the recent Asian Games and the fourth window of the qualifiers. Guiao released the list at halftime of the Blackwater-Magnolia quarterfinal match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Guiao also announced he is officially the head coach of Gilas Pilipinas.
"It's no longer interim coach, no longer temporary. I will be the coach until the World Cup," he said.
In the pool are recent call-ups Paul Lee, Stanley Pringle, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Scottie Thompson, Gabe Norwood, Japeth Aguilar, Beau Belga, Poy Erram, Ian Sangalang, and Christian Standhardinger. The veterans included are Jayson Castro, Matthew Wright, Troy Rosario, June Mar Fajardo, and Greg Slaughter.
Naturalized player Andray Blatche and Terrence Romeo were not in the pool. LA Tenorio and Arwind Santos are making a comeback to the national pool.
Gilas cadets Ricci Rivero and Kai Sotto were also added.
"The lineup was proposed by SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) to the coaching staff and it was accepted by the PBA. We feel that this a consensus lineup," said Guiao. "Everybody in the lineup is considered, has the chance to make the final 12. But we might need to make an initial cut of around 15 before the exhibition games."
SBP president Al Panlilio said this lineup was one of the best, if not the best, national team ever assembled with the PBA throwing its full support to the Gilas squad, currently in third place in Group F at 5-3.
Gilas will start training camp on November 12 but will have daily practices once the PBA suspends the playoffs to give way for the Philippines games on November 30 and December 3 against Kazakhstan and Iran, respectively.
The team will also face Jordan (November 19 and 21) and Lebanon (November 23 and 25) in a series of tune-up game as part of its preparations for the fifth window.