Stanley Pringle will be assigned to fill the spot as naturalized player while LA Tenorio makes his debut Friday when Gilas Pilipinas faces Kazakhstan in the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Long-time rivals June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter were included as expected in coach Yeng Guiao’s 12-man roster for the first of two home matches Gilas needs to win to assure qualification for next year’s World Cup in China.
Also making the cut are Japeth Aguilar, Beau Belga, Poy Erram, Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Gabe Norwood, Scottie Thompson and Matthew Wright.
Guiao opted to place Pringle for his speed and quickness over Christian Standhardinger despite the latter’s strong showing in Gilas’ tune-up matches against Jordan and Lebanon.
Standhardinger, however, is expected to be used by Guiao against the taller Iranian squad on Monday at the same venue.
Also left out were Paul Lee, Arwind Santos, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and amateurs Ricci Rivero and Kai Sotto.
Lee is doing double-duty as he’s also focused on Magnolia’s preparation for the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals showdown against Alaska.
Castro and Rosario, on the other hand, will serve the last of their three-game suspension for taking part in a brawl that marred Gilas’ first round match against Australia last July.
Pringle, Erram and Belga are holdovers of Gilas’ 96-59 win over Kazakhstan in their last meeting during the Indonesia Asian Games in Jakarta.
Kazakhstan is expected to use almost the same roster for the match. (Jonas Terrado)