Santos, 2 cadet pasok sa tropa ni Yeng

TATLONG bagong pangalan na kinabibilangan ng dalawang cadets ang isinama ni national coach Yeng Guiao sa kanyang listahan para sa bubuo ng 20-man training pool sa darating na window ng FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Ang tatlong bago sa listahan ni Guiao ay sina San Miguel Beer forward Arwind Santos at ang mga cadets na sina Kai Sotto at Richie Rivero.

Bukod sa tatlo, ibinalik din ni Guiao ang beteranong pointguard ng Barangay Ginebra na si LA Tenorio sa listahang iprinisinta ni Guiao at inaprubahan ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) nitong Martes.

Kabilang din sa listahan sina June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Ian Sangalang, Paul Lee, Alex Cabagnot, Matthew Wright, Marcio Lassiter, Scottie Thompson, Gabe Norwood, Beau Belga, Poy Erram, at ang mga nagbabalik mula sa suspensiyon na sina Jayson Castro at Troy Rosario.

Kasama rin at nakatala bilang naturalized player sina Christian Standhardinger at Stanley Pringle.

“We are very happy to announce that both the SBP and the PBA support the proposal of coach Yeng Guiao, I think it will be maybe one of the best, if not, the best team that would be ever formed to actually represent the Philippines in the international competition,” pahayag ni SBP president Al Panlilio sa press conference nitong Martes ng gabi sa halftime ng quarterfinals match ng Magnolia at Blackwater sa PBA Governors Cup sa Araneta Coliseum.

“I would like to personally thank the PBA and the SBP for the unconditional support that they have given us,” ayon naman kay Guiao.

Wala sa listahan sina Andray Blatche at Terrence Romeo na maaari lamang sanang lumaro sa Disyembre 3 kontra Iran pagkatapos ng kanilang 3-game suspension mula sa FIBA.

Ngunit, nilinaw naman ni Guiao na kasama sina Blatche at Romeo sa ikukunsidera sa susunod na window ng qualifiers.

“We sought the approval of the SBP and the PBA and they supported the decision,” ani Guiao. “Terrence is also going to be considered just like Blatche in the next window, but we would like to be able to reward the guys who have already played in the fourth window and the guys who played in the Asian Games.”

Bilang bahagi ng kanilang gagawing paghahanda, ang Team Philippines ay magkakaroon ng scrimmage games kontra Jordan sa Nobyembre 19 at 21 at kontra Lebanon sa Nobyembre 23 at 25 sa Meralco gym.

“Good for us at least we won’t have to spend money to go abroad and play tune-up games,” ayon pa kay Guiao.