MANILA -- The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) released the final lineup for Gilas Pilipinas Men in the FIBA World Cup on Sunday night.
In a tweet moments after Gilas Men's tuneup game against the Adelaide 36ers at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City, the SBP named Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, Andray Blatche, Robert Bolick, June Mar Fajardo, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, CJ Perez, RR Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, and Troy Rosario to the "Final 12".
The development means Matt Wright and Poy Erram, who got injured during the practices, were the last cuts from the pool as Coach Yeng Guiao opted not to wait for their injuries to heal.
During the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, Guiao said that TNT's Pogoy and Rosario and San Miguel's Fajardo, whose teams faced off in the championship series, are already shoo-ins.
Guiao hinted on Friday night, after Gilas Men's first tuneup against Adelaide, that team captain Norwood, Blatche, the team's naturalized player, and Aguilar are also cinches for the final roster.
He also hinted that the FIBA World Cup could be Ravena's first tournament in his return from his FIBA suspension, essentially making him a shoo-in too.
That leaves Almazan, Barroca, Bolick, Lee, and Perez as the last guys in.
Gilas Men will return to practice on Tuesday night and will play Phoenix in a tuneup game on Wednesday night before leaving for Foshan on Thursday morning. (PNA)
