Biggest front court yet sans Blatche: Gilas pool includes Fajardo, Slaughter, Sotto

Even without Andray Blatche, Team Pilipinas will have its biggest front court yet under national team head coach Yeng Guiao.

June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, and Kai Sotto have been included in the national team pool for the upcoming FIBA window.

Photo courtesy of FIBA website

The lineup was announced by Guiao, together with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Tuesday afternoon during the halftime break of the Game 1 of the PBA Quarterfinals series between Magnolia Hotshots and Blackwater Elite.

Aside from Fajardo, Blatche, and the young Sotto, the following players are included in the national training pool:

-Jayson Castro
-Paul Lee
-Stanley Pringle
-Alex Cabagnot
-Matthew Wright
-Marcio Lassiter
-Ricci Rivero (Cadet)
-Scottie Thompson
-Gabe Norwood
-Troy Rosario
-Arwind Santos
-LA Tenorio
-Japeth Aguilar
-Greg Slaughter
-June Mar Fajardo
-Beau Belga
-Christian Standhardinger
-JP Erram
-Ian Sangalang
-Kai Sotto

Team Pilipinas Pool ???????? Castro, Lee, Pringle, Cabagnot, Wright, Lassiter, Rivero, Thompson, Norwood, Rosario, Santos, Tenorio, Aguilar, Slaughter, Fajardo, Belga, Standhardinger, Erram, Sangalang, Sotto.

— PBA (@pbaconnect) November 6, 2018

Guiao said this is a consensus lineup and everyone in the pool has a chance to make it to the Final 12.

The non-inclusion of Blatche in the pool is a difficult decision, according to Guiao. "We appreciate what Blatche has done for us previously. It was really a hard decision from our part." 

Blatche can still be considered in the next FIBA window. "This is an experiment. Pag nakikita natin na nahihirapan tayo na di natin kaya, he’s an option."

The multi-titled coach said he wants to preserve the bond and chemistry formed in the Asian Games and FIBA fourth window last September.

The Philippines will play the upcoming games at home, with the national team facing Kazakhstan on November 30, and Iran on December 3.

After playing their last home game behind closed doors, Guiao said the team is expecting the full support of Filipinos. "We will rely strongly on our hometown crowd. We miss that sorely. We want to hear that crowd. We need our 6th man back!" — LA, GMA News