GILAS Pilipinas coach Yeng Guiao is leaving nothing to chance.
Guiao has expanded the national team pool to the FIBA World Cup to 19 players that included four naturalized players in Andray Blatche, Jordan Clarkson, Stanley Pringle, and Christian Standhardinger.
The Gilas pool was submitted by Guiao on Monday and later approved by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio and SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan.
The inclusion of Clarkson, the Fil-Am guard of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was the most surprising of all, which Guiao describes as a back-up plan just in case anything untoward things happen.
"At least we have options on the naturalized players," said Guiao at the conclusion of Gilas Pilipinas' Monday night practice at the Meralco gym which also saw Blatche finally coming on board for the team after arriving in the country over the weekend.
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Still, Guiao is hoping FIBA will already decide to consider Clarkson as a local player in time for the World Cup in August.
Clarkson's case is currently on appeal by the SBP before the sport's world governing body.
"We're still hoping that a miracle happens," said Guiao. "We're still not giving up on the effort to play him as a local."
Comprising the rest of the Gilas Pilipinas pool are Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, Beau Belga, Robert Bolick, Poy Erram, Juner Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, Troy Rosario, and Matthew Wright.
From the pool of players which the SBP is set to submit to FIBA, will come the final 12-man roster of Gilas Pilipinas to the World Cup.
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Guiao is looking to name the 12 players before the national team leaves for Foshan, China on August 29. (RG)
