Mason Amos makes cut, Schonny Winston, Jerom Lastimosa, Kevin Quiambao take backseat as Gilas releases roster vs. Lebanon

Mason Amos is making his Gilas first team debut on Friday night. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Mason Amos is officially making the jump from Gilas Pilipinas' youth squad to the first team as he was inserted in the national team's "chosen dozen" for its Friday night fight against Lebanon in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Amos will join fellow Gilas seniors team debutant Justin Brownlee and returning Gilas vets Kiefer Ravena, Scottie Thompson, CJ Perez, Jordan Heading, Ray-Ray Parks, Dwight Ramos, Thirdy Ravena, Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo, and June Mar Fajardo.

With Schonny Winston, Jerom Lastimosa, and Kevin Quiambao sitting out the Gilas-Lebanon grudge match, Amos is the only amateur player that made the Final 12.

Challenging Gilas is Lebanon's lineup consisting of Amir Saoud, Sergio El-Darwich and Hayk Gyokchya, Karim Zeinoun, Jad Khalil, Ali Mansour, Ali Mezher, Jean-Marc Jarrouj, Marc Khoueiry, Gabriel Salibi, Gerard Hadidian, and Naim Rabay.

Despite Wael Arakji's absence, Lebanon remains formidable especially with Saoud, who scored 41 points to lead Al-Riyadi past Strong Group in the Dubai International Basketball Championship quarterfinals earlier this month, expected to lead the way.

Both teams are already assured of spots in the FIBA World Cup main tournament from Aug. 25-Sept. 10, but Gilas would want to avenge its tough defeat on the road to Lebanon despite having Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto around.

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