Standhardinger, Pringle joining WC Gilas pool?

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao plans to submit the initial pool of 17 or 18 players to the SBP today and it will likely include San Miguel Beer’s Fil-German Christian Standhardinger and NorthPort’s Fil-Am Stanley Pringle.

There are deadlines that FIBA has set for the submission of the initial pool of up to 24 players and the final roster of 12 for the World Cup scheduled in China on Aug. 31-Sept. 15. The day before the World Cup begins, a technical meeting will be conducted by FIBA to finalize the 12-man lineups of the 32 participating nations.  

FIBA opened its MAP (Management and Administration Platform), an online information system, for the registration of players, coaches and other team staff last July 1. The deadline to submit the long list or initial pool is Aug. 23 midnight. 

Guiao said volunteer practice players Pringle and Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga will be included in the initial pool. Pringle and Standhardinger, however, are eligible to see action for the Philippines only as naturalized players since they were issued their Philippine passports as dual citizens after turning 16. Under FIBA rules, a national team may enlist only one naturalized player. “Immersion” exceptions are allowed by FIBA in the case of foreigners who are long-time residents of their adopted countries.

“We might need to include Standhardinger just to have a backup for Dray (Blatche),” said Guiao. “Knock on wood, sana nothing bad happens between now and the World Cup. For the initial pool, 17 or 18 would be a good number.”

The possible 18 are June Mar Fajardo, R. R. Pogoy, Gabe Norwood, Troy Rosario, Marcio Lassiter, C. J. Perez, Robert Bolick, Matthew Wright, Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Kiefer Ravena, Poy Erram, Blatche, Standhardinger, Pringle and Belga.

“I’ll submit the list of the Gilas pool to SBP today for final approval prior to release to the public,” said Guiao. “The final 12 will be revealed the day before the tournament begins during the team managers’ meeting.  Only two tune-ups against Adelaide are in the sked after returning from Spain.”

Guiao said it’ll be a challenge to survive the first round of eliminations in the World Cup as the Philippines joins Italy, Serbia and Angola in the same bracket with only two advancing to the second round. 

“Our best chance would be Angola,” he said. “We need to be playing our best and Italy to be close to their worst for us to have a shot at them. Serbia is a contender to win the title with USA and Spain. It’s a very tough group for us. Aside from Dray, we need our shooters to hit the mark – Marcio, R. R., Kiefer and the others. June Mar and Japeth will have to match up well against the best bigs in the world for us not to get dominated in the lane.”

Guiao said Blatche flew in last Friday looking like he’s in shape. “Dray looks OK,” he said. “More like he was the last FIBA window. We’ll still do twice a week practices this week and hope to get more practice time next week. Dray will practice with NLEX next week when we resume practice.”

Guiao said late additions Perez, Bolick and Wright could crack the final 12. “They’ve got a fair chance of making the team,” he said. “Whoever won’t make the World Cup will suit up in the SEA Games.”  Regarding practice time, Guiao said it’s never enough. “A lot of national teams bound for the World Cup are already playing in tune-ups and pocket tournaments,” he said. “We’re practically just putting together our team.”