Gilas Pilipinas. Photo by Fiba
MANILA, Philippines-The Philippines applied one little tweak to its roster ahead of its Fiba duel against Saudi Arabia on Monday night.
Roosevelt Adams, the final cut from the 13-man delegation that flew to Beirut, Lebanon, to play the Cedars last week, will be making his national team debut in the clash set 7 p.m. at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The former Terrafirma swingman, selected 1st overall in the 2019 regular PBA Rookie Draft, takes the spot left by varsity star Carl Tamayo, according to Fiba. Tamayo joined University of the Philippines on Sunday in South Korea.
Tamayo and the Fighting Maroons, who are girding for a title-retention bid in the UAAP, will be playing eight tuneup games, program director Bo Perasol told the Inquirer.
A 6-foot-5 athletic forward who can also hit the outside shot, Adams could provide a boost in quickness for Gilas which will again be bannered by Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson.
Clarkson will be playing his first game on home soil.
Reprising their roles alongside Clarkson are Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Ray Parks, Jr., Dwight Ramos, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Kai Sotto, and Scottie Thompson.
The Philippines, nursing a 2-3 record including a loss to Lebanon on Friday, is projected to cruise past the Saudis.
The visitors, however, could pose problems on defense as they are the finest blocking team in the 15-nation World Cup Asian Qualifiers, which the Philippines is using as a pilot phase for a World Cup cast that will be built around Clarkson.