GILAS Pilipinas hopes to pick up from where it left off as it battles Jordan in the first of a two-game sojourn on the road in the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
The Filipinos take on the Falcons early Friday morning before an expected partisan crowd at the Prince Hamza Hall in Amman.
They will be going to the match coming off an 84-46 rout of Saudi Arabia at home during the previous window that saw NBA star Jordan Clarkson suiting up as the team's naturalized player.
The 6-foot-5 Utah Jazz guard won't be with the national team this time around, but taking his place is Ateneo big man Ange Kouame.
The 6-foot-10 naturalized player led the 12-man lineup submitted by coach Chot Reyes to the FIBA technical committee 24 hours before the match.
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Also named to the roster are Australia-based Kai Sotto of Adelaide 36ers, the Ginebra trio of Japeth Aguilar, Jamie Malonzo, and Scottie Thompson, the TNT trio as well of Calvin Oftana, Roger Pogoy, and Poy Erram, CJ Perez of San Miguel, Japan B League players Bobby Ray Parks and Dwight Ramos, as well as young La Salle center Kevin Quiambao.
Thirdy Ravena was the final cut out of the 20-man pool that practiced with the national team for the fifth window of the qualifiers.
The Filipinos conducted one light training on the morning of the game against the host, which is tied with Gilas Pilipinas at third place in Group E with identical 3-3 records.
Jordan though, lost to group leader New Zealand in its last outing, 100-72.
The host is led by naturalized player Dar Tucker and coached by American Joseph Anthony Stiebing.
Following the match, the Filipinos will proceed to Jeddah for its next game against Saudi Arabia on Monday morning. (RG)
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