Kai Sotto included in Guiao’s 20-man Philippine pool; Blatche out

MANILA, Philippines – Team Philippines coach Yeng Guiao on Tuesday announced the 20-man pool from which the lineup for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers will be formed.

UP’s Ricci Rivero and high school phenom Kai Sotto made it to the list, joining 18 PBA players. Naturalized bigman and Team Philippines veteran Andray Blatche, meanwhile, has curiously been left out.

Completing the selection are Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, LA Tenorio and Scottie Thompson; Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga and Gabe Norwood; San Miguel’s Alex Cabagnot, June Mar Fajardo, Christian Standhardinger, Marcio Lassiter and Arwind Santos; TNT’s Jayson Castro and Troy Rosario; NorthPort’s Stanley Pringle; Magnolia’s Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang; Blackwater’s JP Erram; and Phoenix’s Matthew Wright.

The national quintet plays Lebanon and Jordan in tune-up matches in the run-up to the qualifier's fifth and penultimate window where the Nationals takes on Kazakhstan on November 30 then Iran on December 3 both at the Mall of Arena Arena in Pasay City.