Must-win for PH team vs Qatar Pringle in; Aguilar, Wright return after serving suspensions

Stanley Pringle, Japeth Aguilar and Matthew Wright were enlisted in coach Yeng Guiao’s 12-man roster of the Philippines’ FIBA World Cup Qualifiers match against Qatar that will be held under closed door tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Guiao’s stayed with his initial plan of inserting Pringle in lieu of Christian Standhardinger as naturalized player for the 7:30 p.m. affair that will see the national cagers attempt to rebound from Thursday’s 81-73 loss to Iran in Tehran.

Pringle is seen as a player who can give the Filipinos an advantage in terms of speed and quickness against the Qataris who are smarting from a 95-43 defeat to Australia in Doha.

Standhardinger is handing the baton to Pringle despite leading all Filipino players in scoring with 30 points against the Iranians.

Greg Slaughter will again miss the qualifiers as his ankle injury has yet to fully heal.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio applauded the return of Aguilar and Wright to the lineup and backed Guiao’s decision to put in Pringle.

The national cagers are out to score a win and boost their chances of securing a berth in next year’s World Cup in China.

The top three teams and possibly the fourth placer in Group F qualify for the World Cup. The Philippines is in third place at 4-3, trailing 6-1 teams Iran and Auatralia.

Guiao is hoping to help the team improve its dismal shooting marred by a 5-of-28 clip from three-point country against Iran. The woes were evident in the fourth quarter when the Philippines allowed Iran to pull away.

Except for a selected few, no people will be allowed to see the action in the flesh as part of FIBA’s punishment in the country’s role in the July 2 brawl against Australia at the Philippine Arena.

Only officials from FIBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and mediamen will be allowed inside the Big Dome.