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| Jordan Clarkson and Ray-Ray Parks received invitations to the Gilas pool for the FIBA Asia Championship. Getty Images (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson and the returning Star forward Marc Pingris headline the 24-man pool the SBP called up for the FIBA Asia Championship.
In the release of the said lineup on Tuesday, Clarkson, who Executive Director Sonny Barrios confirmed to have a Philippine passport before reaching the age of 16, and Pingris, who announced his Gilas return last week, were included in the pool which will be the basis of the 12 players who will vie for a 2016 Summer Olympic spot in the tournament to be held on Sept. 23.
Xinjiang center Andray Blatche will continue to man the paint as Gilas' naturalized player even as Dallas Mavericks' summer league team player Ray-Ray Parks was also thrown into the mix.
On the other hand, the PBA's top two draft picks, Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario, also got call-ups for the national team.
College basketball star Kiefer Ravena also got a Gilas invitation as the graduating Ateneo guard made impressions in the SEA Games.
Joining Pingris among the holdovers from the 2013 team that captured the silver medal were Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood, Jayson Castro, Gary David, Ranidel De Ocampo, Junemar Fajardo, and L.A. Tenorio, while Paul Lee, who joined Gilas in the 2014 FIBA World Cup, also made the list.
Sonny Thoss, Calvin Abueva, Aldrech Ramos, Matt Rosser, Dondon Hontiveros, Asi Taulava, Terrence Romeo, and Marcio Lassiter round up the Gilas pool.
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