13-man Gilas squads heads to Middle East for WCQ 5th window

CJ Perez makes a return to Gilas. Dennis Acosta (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Gilas Pilipinas will be 13-player strong for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

In an announcement late Monday night, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said that Ginebra's Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Jamie Malonzo, TNT's RR Pogoy, Calvin Oftana, and Poy Erram, San Miguel's CJ Perez, San-En's Thirdy Ravena, Nagoya's Ray-Ray Parks, Hokkaido's Dwight Ramos, Ateneo's Ange Kouame, and La Salle's Kevin Quiambao will don the Philippine colors as Gilas takes on Jordan and Saudi Arabia this weekend.

This effectively means that NorthPort's William Navarro and Arvin Tolentino, Shiga's Kiefer Ravena, and unattached forward LeBron Lopez missed the cut.

Ravena was actually the latest to beg off as he underwent dental operation on his wisdom tooth, but it also means Gilas will be playing without a legitimate pure point guard.

Already letting go of their spots due to injuries were Meralco's Chris Newsome, San Miguel's June Mar Fajardo, and University of the Philippines' Carl Tamayo.

Gilas is to fly to Amman at 11 p.m. Monday but not without some more training as the team did a practice session earlier in the day

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