Team Pilipinas is almost ready, and they showed it in a tuneup game, and how they won over IECO Green Warriors, 99-82, on Sunday.
After the national team’s first and only tune-up game for the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers against Iran, coach Yeng Guiao said he is nearing a decision on who will make up his Final 12.
“Wala pa akong naiisip na final. Pero pagdating sa Iran, doon na malalaman,” said Guiao.
Guiao took note of their need to take of their rebounds during the game.
“We had some lapses with the offensive rebounding. Pero ‘yun lang,” added Guiao.
The Green Warriors, owned Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy, will join the 2018 Asia Super League Terrific 12.
Guiao is getting the PH team ready, with Greg Slaughter already officially listed.
He will get to play for the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team as a local.
That’s after Slaughter finally got clearance that basketball officials have been seeking before world basketball body FIBA
The clearance was given, some five days before their first game in the second round of the World Cup Asian qualifiers against Iran on Sept. 13.
“I just found out Fiba has approved my eligibility as a local! Couldn’t be happier about this,” said Slaughter in a twitter message.
FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann confirmed the decision in a letter sent to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios.
“After a thorough review of the documentation by (the SBP), FIBA exceptionally authorizes Gregory William Slaughter to play for the Philippine national team without restriction,” said Baumann in his letter.
Because of this, Team Pilipinas will have a loaded frontline with the seven-foot Slaughter matched up against Hamed Haddadi when they take on Iran in Tehran this coming week.
National coach Yeng Guiao will now have a choice between Christian Standhardinger or Stanley Pringle as the lone naturalized player spot in the team against Iran.
A new choice of a naturalized player will come before their closed-door home game against Qatar on Sept. 17.