Gilas Pilipinas to name Final 12 after friendlies vs 3 World Cup-bound countries

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will reveal the names on its final roster of 12 for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup after Gilas Pilipinas' three friendly matches against three other nations next week.

Gilas will play Ivory Coast on August 18 before taking on Montenegro and Mexico on the 20th and 21st behind closed doors.

According to SBP president Al Panlilio, this series of tune-up games will be instrumental in determining the 12-man lineup of Gilas.

"I know that other countries have already done so but it’s very hard for the coaches to really make that decision," Panlilio said during the PSA Forum on Tuesday.

"I think these next three games that we’re playing, Ivory Coast (August 18), Monte Negro (August 20), and Mexico (August 21), will really help the coaches for the final 12."

SBP initially named a 21-man pool for the global competition with naturalized cagers Jordan Clarkson, Justin Brownlee, and Ange Kouame included on the list.

The other 18 local players are Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, CJ Perez, Rhenz Abando, Jordan Heading, RR Pogoy, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, Poy Erram, Carl Tamayo, Ray Parks Jr., June Mar Fajardo, Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Calvin Oftana, and Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena.

Brownlee and Kouame are already ruled out as the naturalized spot will be given to Clarkson while Erram recently retired from his national team duty due to a knee injury. Tamayo and Jordan Heading had earlier begged off due to injuries as well.

Thompson and Sotto, meanwhile, have returned to Gilas training after sustaining injuries in the past weeks.

Despite choosing among only 16 players, Panlilio said the decision to cut four players would be a difficult task for head coach Chot Reyes and his deputies.

"I think the difficulty for the coaches now is deciding the final 12 because I have to say thank you to everybody in the pool who has sacrificed for Gilas even though they are not guaranteed a spot," Panlilio added.

"Talagang gusto namin to perform our very best (We really want to perform our very best)."

The deadline of submission of the final lineup is on August 23, two days before the opening day on August 25 at the Philippine Arena where Gilas will face Dominican Republic.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News