Gilas Pilipinas’ naturalized center Justin Brownlee. –FIBA BASKETBALL
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on Saturday revealed a 28-man talent pool from which the final Gilas Pilipinas roster tasked to reclaim the Southeast Asian Games basketball gold in Cambodia will come from, and the cage agency is making sure that the best team will play.
June Mar Fajardo and Justin Brownlee lead a pro-rich selection that president Al S. Panilio expects will fulfill the national federation’s “commitment to our basketball-loving countrymen.”
They are joined in the pool by Gilas regulars CJ Perez, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram, Calvin Oftana, Chris Newsome, Raymond Almazan, Kevin Alas and Marcio Lassiter.
Returning to the program are Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, Christian Standhardinger, Stanley Pringle along with Arvin Tolentino. Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who suited up and delivered a bronze medal for the country in the 3×3 showcase, is getting his first 5×5 call-up.
TNT star Mikey Williams. –PBA IMAGES
Other notable first-timers include reigning PBA scoring champion Mikey Williams, rising Ginebra star Jeremiah Gray, and La Salle big men and brothers Benjamin and Michael Phillips.
Schonny Winston, Kevin Quiambao, Jerom Lastimosa, and Mason Amos lead the crop from the amateur ranks, which includes the towering AJ Edu, whose men’s team debut has been set back by knee injuries.
“That moment is upon us, and we’re not leaving any stone unturned in our overall bid to regain basketball glory in our region,” said Panlilio, referring to the debacle in the last SEA Games.
“What we’ve gone through after that fateful day in Hanoi, both the wins and the losses in the various tournaments that followed, are, in effect, geared also toward bringing the SEA Games gold medal back to our shores.”