Reyes adds five more to Fiba World Cup hopefuls

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes Friday added five more players to the 12 members of the national team who secured a slot for the country in the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain.

Shooting guard Marcio Lassiter of Petron Blaze, Barangay Ginebra’s 7-foot center Greg Slaughter, wingman Jared Dillinger of Meralco and Rain or Shine’s Paul Lee and Beau Belga were picked by Reyes to join the national pool that will undergo extensive training and preparation before the final 12-man lineup for the World Cup is chosen.

The Philippines, which qualified by placing second in last year’s Fiba Asia championship, is bracketed with Argentina, Puerto Rico, Greece, Senegal and Croatia in Group B of the world championships to be held in Seville, Spain, from Aug. 30 to Sept. 14.

Naturalized center Marcus Douthit, Jason Castro, Marc Pingris, Jeff Chan, Ranidel De Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, Gabe Norwood led the Nationals to a silver-medal finish in the Asian championship held in Manila in August last year.

Other members of the team were Gary David, June Mar Fajardo, Larry Fonacier, LA Tenorio and Jimmy Alapag.

Gilas Pilipinas toppled South Korea in the semifinals of the Asian championship at MOA Arena before losing the gold-medal match against powerhouse and former champion Iran.

It will be the first time in 36 years that the national team will see action in the worlds after Manila hosted the Fiba tournament in 1978.

Lee, Lassiter and Dillinger could strengthen Gilas in the wings while Belga and Slaughter will add size and ceiling to the team, which is looking to naturalize two more Americans—NBA players JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche before the world championship.

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