Guiao set to name "Final 12" vs Iran on Monday

Stanley Pringle headlines Gilas' FIBA WCQ pool. PSC Media Pool (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--Should the plan work out, Coach Yeng Guiao may likely name his final lineup for Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA World Cup Qualifiers game against Iran very soon.

Guiao said on Saturday night that he is likely to unveil his "chosen dozen" that will fly to Tehran for the Sept. 13 game as the national team resumes its bid for a spot in next year's FIBA World Cup in China right after the team restarts its training at the Meralco Gym in Pasig.

"I think we can give the final lineup on Monday," Guiao told reporters just as Gilas made a quick return home from Jakarta following its fifth place finish in the Asian Games.

The Nationals landed at the NAIA Terminal 3 via AirAsia Flight Z2236 direct from Jakarta just before 5 p.m. Saturday.

The concurrent NLEX mentor added, "After ng practice [ilalabas] yung final lineup natin kasi magdedere-derecho na ng ensayo yun hanggang umalis."

The so-called "Gilastopainters" who played in the Asiad make up the bulk of the national pool for the fourth window of the WCQ, which includes a closed-door game against Qatar at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sept. 17.

However, Jordan Clarkson will miss out on the WCQ window as he flew back to Cleveland to join the Cavaliers in their training camp.

Guiao also invited Ginebra's Scottie Thompson and Greg Slaughter, San Miguel's Alex Cabagnot and Marcio Lassiter, Magnolia's Ian Sangalang, and Blackwater's Allein Maliksi to the Gilas practice.

Thompson and Slaughter on Friday expressed their interest to join the training, although the latter has some uncertainty regarding his eligibility.

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