Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto headline Gilas Pilipinas for 2023 FIBA World Cup

Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto will as soon as once more headline the Philippines as Gilas Pilipinas named its Final 12 for the 2023 FIBA World Cup that the nation is internet hosting.

The duo will lead a mixture of veterans and younger weapons because the Filipinos look to surpass their earlier World Cup showings.

In an inventory despatched by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chief Al Panlilio, Japeth Aguilar will lead the pack because the newly-minted crew captain alongside seasoned massive man June Mar Fajardo. Scottie Thompson, who was out for just a few weeks as a consequence of a hand harm, can also be within the remaining lineup to affix Clarkson within the backcourt.

Young weapons AJ Edu, Rhenz Abando, and Dwight Ramos will even get their first style of World Cup actions as skilled cagers Jamie Malonzo, CJ Perez, RR Pogoy, and Kiefer Ravena spherical out the 12-man crew.

Thirdy Ravena, Calvin Oftana, Ray Parks, and Chris Newsome, in the meantime, had been reduce from the preliminary 16-man pool.

Clarkson and Sotto already performed collectively through the fourth window of the Asian Qualifiers, whereas this might be Aguilar and Fajardo’s third stint within the World Cup. Kiefer, Perez, and Pogoy additionally beforehand performed within the 2019 version of the World Cup.

The Gilas squad will tackle the Dominican Republic first on the opening at Philippine Arena on August 25 earlier than battling Angola and Italy on the twenty seventh and twenty ninth on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News