Gilas Pilipinas’ final 12-man lineup for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games has been set.
National team veterans June Mar Fajardo, LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, and Roger Pogoy will spearhead the Philippines’ campaign for a 13th straight SEA Games gold medal and 18th overall, according to reports by Spin.ph and ESPN5.
Joining the team are fellow Philippine team mainstays Marcio Lassiter, Christian Standhardinger, Matthew Wright, Troy Rosario, Stanley Pringle, and Kiefer Ravena, who will shoot for a rare fifth consecutive gold. “Rookie Gilas, Vic Manuel and Chris Ross will don the Gilas Pilipinas colors for the first time, completes the 12-man roster. This came after finalizing the line-up by Coach Tim Cone from a 15-man pool where Barangay Ginebra players Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson, and Art dela Cruz was cut.
The seven-foot Slaughter was expected to form a towering frontcourt with Fajardo but he suffered a dislocated thumb during the buildup for the SEA Games, which the country will host starting November 30.
Gilas Pilipinas will kick off its gold medal bid against Singapore on December 4 at the Mall of Asia Arena
With additional reports: Philstar.net, Rappler.net, spin.ph and espn5
Photo Sources: news.abs-cbn.com, gmanetwork.com, sports.inquirer.net, foxsportsasia.com, rappler.com, tiebreakertimes.com.ph, rappler.com, PBA Images
