Mark Barroca rejoins Philippines quintet

MANILA, Philippines — Mark Barroca, a member of the original Gilas team formed in 2009, has been tapped for a return stint with Team Phl, joining Jayson Castro, Paul Lee and Scottie Thompson in the backcourt to be utilized versus Qatar and Kazakhstan in the FIBA World Cup qualifier final window.

The STAR has reported earlier the return of naturalized player Andray Blatche and the sure inclusion of Castro, Lee, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, RR Pogoy, Poy Erram, Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo.

Completing a 14-man pool released by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas yesterday were Raymond Almazan, Marcio Lassiter and Christian Standhardinger.

Standhardinger is backup to Blatche.

The surprise is Barroca, who last suited up with the national team in 2011 in the FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan, China, under coach Rajko Toroman.

Barroca and Lee are taking the spots filled by LA Tenorio and Alex Cabagnot in the last FIBA window.

The Nationals re-open camp Monday for the buildup for two critical “away” matches versus Qatar and Kazakhstan.

Pogoy is in the pool only for the game against the Kazakhs. The TNT KaTropa gunner has served his five-game suspension by FIBA by then.

The Nationals clash with Qatar in Doha on Feb. 21 then with Kazakhstan in Almaty on Feb. 24.