Marcio Lassiter ruled out of Gilas roster for FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines— San Miguel Beer's Marcio Lassiter will not make the Gilas Pilipinas line-up for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, as he is still recovering from the knee injury that he sustained during the 2019 PBA Commissioner's Cup playoffs.

Lassiter injured his left knee in San Miguel's door-die quarterfinals game against North Port on June 24, following a knee-to-knee collision with Garvo Lanete. He was later diagnosed with an MCL sprain that, at the time, would need at least 6 weeks to heal.

While Lassiter continued to show up at Gilas Pilipinas practices, on Friday head coach Yeng Guiao confirmed that the sharpshooter will not make it to his final 12.

"Nag-usap na kami ni Marcio, hindi siya aabot," said Guiao.

"Sabi niya mahirap kasi pagka tine-testing niya

'yung tuhod niya, medyo kumakalog pa, may kalog pa. So sabi ko don't risk it, 'wag mo na i-risk 'yan."

Guiao said that Lassiter badly wanted to play with Gilas in the World Cup, and the San Miguel veteran later acknowledged that he was "very disappointed."

"It's just bad timing," Lassiter said. "When I got hurt, I didn't want to get hurt but it happened."

"When I started in Gilas, my second time around, I knew that we have a chance to kinda be in this position, I wanna be there," he added. "And I worked hard to train my body and do the things that I can."

But the "freak accident" will cost him the chance to participate in the World Cup, as Lassiter himself acknowledged that his knee is nowhere near where it needs to be for him to play his game.

"I know the type of game I play, I know the two-way player I am. It's at the beginning stages of my rehab, and it's something that, on a feel it's not the way I like it to feel," he said.

"I don't know how to describe it, but the feel is off. It's not stable, I guess, the knee. And that's just gonna take time."

Lassiter can take comfort in knowing that he does not need to have surgery to repair his knee. He also plans to do what he can

to keep supporting and helping Gilas Pilipinas, and hopes to be with the team when they compete in China.

"I feel like even if I'm not playing, I wanna help cheer them on, or just give insight. If I can give some pointers out to the younger

guys just to help them out, maybe, I see something different they can kinda adjust to," he said.

"Hopefully my experience can help them if it's needed. I would love to join the team and just try to be supportive and be there for them." ABS-CBN News