WILL the presence of Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson and prized 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto galvanize Gilas Pilipinas?
Clarkson and Sotto will banner the final 12 of coach Chot Reyes’ side that will take on upstart Lebanon early morning today in Group E of the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex in Beirut.
The match is set at 2 a.m. (Philippine time), with the nationals out to score a fitting follow-up to their 79-63 victory over India in the third window last July.
But Gilas, carrying a 2-2 card, is expected to have its hands full against the Lebanese, who wound up as bridesmaids in the recent FIBA Asia Cup and will go to battle armed with a 90-60 drubbing of Saudi Arabia in the last window.
Also tapped to suit up for the Filipino cagers are reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and Ginebra teammate Japeth Aguilar, Chris Newsome of Meralco, NLEX’s Calvin Oftana, Jamie Malonzo of NorthPort, Japan B.League imports Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and University of the Philippines standout Carl Tamayo.
Newsome and Malonzo will make their debut in a Gilas jersey.
Cut from the 13-man pool is pro league free agent Roosevelt Adams.
FIBA Asia Cup MVP Wael Arajki will spearhead Lebanon’s bid to improve its 3-1 mark along with naturalized player Jonathan Arledge of the United States, Ali Haidar, Hayk Gyokchyan, Karim Ezzedine, and Elie Chamoun.
Completing Lebanon’s roster are Yousef Khayat, Gerard Hadidian, Karim Zeinoun, Ali Mansour, and Ali Mezher.
With a 2-2 card, Gilas will also square off with Saudi Arabia on Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay in its final outing in the fourth window of the qualifiers, hard-pressed to win to salvage some measure of pride amid a whale of criticisms thrown at the squad.
The arrival of Sotto, who plays for the Adelaide 36ers in NBL Australia, should provide Gilas with the shot-blocking presence previously lacking, a factor assistant coach Tim Cone is optimistic about.
“Kai has been very, very impressive,” said Cone during the Gilas team practice at the Meralco gym prior to their departure for Beirut.
“Maybe in the NBA level, it’s a different thing. But at this level, he’s a real deal. Having Kai protecting the rim for us, it’s making a big, big difference.”
Clarkson’s familiarity with Gilas’ offensive system also gives Cone confidence.
“JC knows the offense already. He runs dribble-drive in Utah, he’s done it before. He’s very comfortable with it so I don’t think that’s going to be an issue for us. He already understands the principles, so he’s stepping in really easy.”
