MANILA, Philippines–Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has submitted a list of 24 names who will comprise the Philippine men’s basketball team for the coming 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
SBP president Al Panlilio on Tuesday revealed just four names part of the pool given to the SEA Games committee and they are Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle, Thirdy Ravena and Isaac Go.
But nothing is final as of the moment with the deadline of submission extended until September 30, giving the SBP and the new national team coach who will be named by that time, room to do some “tweaking,” according to SBP special assistant to the president Ryan Gregorio.
“Now it depends on the new coach. After the selection of the new coach, then, the coach will also assess the pool that we will include in the Southeast Asian Games. It will be sooner than later,” said Gregorio during an impromptu press conference at Manila Cafe at NAIA Terminal 3.
The team will be composed of a combination of PBA and amateur players.
“It’s definitely going to be a combination. MVP said that we want to have some youth movement also so we want to have some collegiate players also to get the necessary experience and of course, we also need to have that veteran leadership we can get from PBA.”
Gregorio also said the SBP will “revisit” the list and with time to make changes, “everything is a possbility,” including a potential inclusion of 17-year-old Kai Sotto, who is a big part of the future of Philippine basketball.
Gregorio added he is not authorized yet to reveal the names of the initial list apart from the four already mentioned by Panlilio.
“If boss Al already mentioned it then it’s good to go. We’re just going to add more so it’s really more addition than subtraction.”