By REYNALD MAGALLON
NBA star Jordan Clarkson and 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto banner the 13-man pool of Gilas Pilipinas that will travel for Lebanon early Tuesday, Aug. 23, for the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director and Spokesperson Sonny Barrios announced the list during a special session of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Monday, Aug. 22.
Clarkson, who plays for the Utah Jazz, arrived Friday for his second tour of duty being part of the Rain or Shine-backed PH team that saw action in the Jakarta Asian Games in 2018.
Joining the two are PBA stars Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar of Ginebra, Calvin Oftana of NLEX and first time national team players in Meralco’s Chris Newsome, NorthPort’s Jamie Malonzo and free-agent Roosevelt Adams, all will be playing as a local after getting the clearance from FIBA just last July.
Completing the crew are B. League imports Dwight Ramos, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena and Ray Parks Jr.
University of the Philippines forward Carl Tamayo is the only collegiate player called up in the pool.
The Final 12 will be announced on the deadline of submissions of the lineups on Wednesday, Aug. 24, the day before the game against FIBA Asia Cup 2022 silver medalist Lebanon. The team made their final practice at the Meralco Gym in Pasig on Monday morning before they fly to Beirut at 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
Raymond Almazan, Kevin Alas, Kevin Quiambao, Francis Lopez and Arvin Tolentino were the final cuts while Ian Sangalang and Jio Jalalon begged off from participating for the fourth window as they are still nursing injuries they sustained during the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup.
June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez were ruled out after San Miguel made it to the PBA Finals while Robert Bolick, and Allein Maliksi were the other members of the initial 24-man pool who missed the cut.
The Cedars, on the other hand, will be spearheaded by Asia Cup MVP Wael Arakji along with naturalized player Jonathan Arledge, Sergio El Darwich and sweet-shooting big man Hayk Gyokchan. In the Asia Cup, Lebanon proved to be too much against the then-youth laden Gilas squad, mauling the Filipinos, 95-80.
