Gilas Pilipinas Team. Photo by Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine guard Paul Lee, Meralco forward Jared Dillinger and San Miguel swingman Marcio Lassiter has been added to the national team pool for the Fiba World Cup.
In a tweet on Friday, Smart Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes bared a 17-man pool which included the original line-up from the Fiba Asia Championships and some new additions.
The core of Jimmy Alapag, Jason Castro, LA Tenorio, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel De Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Beau Belga, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, and Marcus Douthit remained intact.
Beau Belga and Greg Slaughter, who trained with the team last year in its build-up for the Asian championships but didn’t make it to the final cut, were also included.
Dillinger was also part of the initial pool last year but was scratched off after suffering a season-ending vehicular accident.
Lee and Lassiter are new faces in the pool but the San Miguel standout is no stranger to the national team experience, having played for the Philippines under Rajko Toroman’s tutelage.
FIBA’s deadline of the submission of the line-up for the World Cup is on June 30.
As Reyes had previously announced, the once-a-week practices for the national team will commence shortly after the PBA Philippine Cup finals.
“Big guards,” said Chot Reyes in a text message to INQUIRER.net when asked the reason behind the additions.