November 19, 2018

Team Pilipinas tests Jordan mettle to kick off tune-up games series

TEAM Pilipinas won't have the services of Stanley Pringle and the four Ginebra players named to the 20-man pool when it plays Jordan in the first of a series of tune-up games as part of its preparation for the fifth window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

Pringle will join Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Scottie Thompson, and LA Tenorio on the sidelines when the nationals tangle with the visiting Jordanians on Monday night at the Meralco gym.

Coach Yeng Guiao decided not to utilize the five pool players since they only had the benefit of practicing just once with the national team on Sunday.

Ginebra just capped its season campaign in the PBA following its ouster in the semifinals of the Governors Cup, while Pringle just arrived from a vacation in the U.S. last Friday night.

"They're all here, but we will not utilize them in the game against Jordan yet. I don't think one day of practice is going to be good enough for them to get into the system," said Guiao.

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"Stanley also is just trying to recover from the trip. So five guys will practice in the morning shootaround, but they will not be utilized in the scrimmage."

The presence of the Ginebra players and Pringle brought to 17 the players who are already practicing with the national squad as it trains for the Nov. 30 game against Kazakhstan and Dec. 3 outing opposite Iran, respectively. Both matches will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Also in attendance were Christian Standhardinger, June Mar Fajardo, Arwind Santos, Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot, Troy Rosario, Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, JP Erram, Matthew Wright, and Beau Belga.

Paul Lee also showed up but was in street clothes, while Magnolia teammate Ian Sangalang was not around, although the two players are exempted from joining the team practice since the Hotshots are in the finals of the season-ending conference opposite Alaska Aces.

Cadets Kai sotto and Ricci Rivero also failed to show up.

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"So against Jordan, we will utilize about 12 to 13 guys, the people who first practiced with us," said Guiao.

After Monday, the national team faces Jordan anew on Wednesday.

The Filipinos then test the mettle of Lebanon in likewise a pair of tune-up matches on Nov. 23 and 25.

Both Jordan and Lebanon are in Group E and in strong contention for one of seven berths allotted for Asia in next year's FIBA World Cup in China.

Lebanon is currently tied at second place with South Korea at 6-2 behind leader New Zealand (7-1). Jordan meanwhile, is running fourth with a 5-3 card.

Team Pilipinas is in Group F at third place with a 5-3 mark followed closely by Japan at 4-4. Australia occupies the top spot in the group at 7-1 followed by Iran at 6-2. (RG)