Lee, Blatche new additions for World Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes has named the 'Final 12' for the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain, Paul Lee and Andray Blatche as the new faces in the core team that qualified for the meet last year.

 

Lee will replace Larry Fonacier who begged off the tournament citing lingering injuries and fatigue while Blatche will replace Marcus Douthit as the naturalized player.

 

Last year's '13th man' Beau Belga and Le''s fellow late additions to the pool Jared Dillinger and Jay Washington were left of the roster.

 

The rest of the roster came from the silver medalists in the 2013 FIBA Asia championships held in Manila last year. They are Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, Marc Pingirs, Ranidel De Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, Junemar Fajardo and Gary David.

 

In an earlier report for the 2014 Asian Games in South Korea the only difference will be Dillinger replacing Alapag in the quadrennial Asian meet.

 

 

The holdovers in the World Cup team are Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Gary David, June Mar Fajardo and Alapag.