Barangay Ginebra’s reigning MVP, Thompson, and six-time league MVP Fajardo of San Miguel bannered the 24-man pool, joining NBA star Jordan Clarkson and Filipino prodigy Kai Sotto.
CJ Perez, Japeth Aguilar, Kevin Alas, Robert Bolick, Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon, Allein Maliksi, and Raymond Almazan are also making their Gilas comeback.
Chris Newsome, Arvin Tolentino, Jaime Malonzo, and Calvin Oftana were also called up for their possible Philippine men’s basketball team debut.
Players from the winner between San Miguel Beer and Meralco in Game 7 of the Philippine Cup semifinals will be taken out of the initial pool.
Former Terrafirma guard Roosevelt Adams, who is set to take his act to Japan B.League, is also part of the pool, joining his fellow global Filipino players Kiefer Ravena, Thirdy Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Dwight Ramos.
Young guns Carl Tamayo, Francis Lopez, and Kevin Quiambao, who were part of the team during the third window of the qualifiers and in the Asia Cup, also made the initial cut.
The Philippines will take on Lebanon in Beirut on August 25 and host Saudi Arabia on August 29 at Mall of Asia Arena.
Oftana, Malonzo, Alas, Ravena brothers, Parks, Quiambao, Tamayo, and Lopez all took part in Gilas’ closed-door training at Meralco Gym on Monday night.
Gilas coach Chot Reyes, Barangay Ginebra mentor Tim Cone and Gilas assistant coach Josh Reyes oversaw the first team practice.