And then there were 12.
After weeks of speculation, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio bared the members of the final Gilas Pilipinas roster for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, namely Utah Jazz star Jordan Clarkson, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kiefer Ravena, CJ Perez, Roger Pogoy, Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Scottie Thompson, AJ Edu, Jamie Malonzo, and Rhenz Abando.
Fajardo, Aguilar, Ravena, Perez and Pogoy are World Cup veterans, while the rest are first-timers, led by NBA hopeful Sotto.
Failing to make the cut are Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks, Calvin Oftana and Chris Newsome even after they joined the team’s two-month training camp in Europe and China.
The team opens its World Cup campaign against the Karl Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic on Friday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, before taking on other Group A members Angola and Italy.
Gilas is seeking to win at least two of its three preliminary games and make it to the second round, hoping to become the best finisher among Asian countries in order to seal a slot for the 2024 Paris Olympics
The last time the Philippines met Dominican Republic on the court was during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in July 2021, when the Filipinos suffered a crushing 94-67 defeat.
The Philippine team was represented then by an inexperienced squad bannered by Jordan Heading and Ange Kouame and a younger Sotto.
Meanwhile, local organizers of the World Cup held a simulation of games at the Mall of Asia Arena in preparation for a near-flawless conduct of the real action when the world’s best basketball teams display their wares beginning Friday (Aug. 25) until Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.
The MOA Arena will host Mexico and Montenegro as they open hostilities Friday at 4:44 p.m., to be followed by the Egypt-Lithuania tussle at 8.45 p.m.
Members of select media were picked to play, with two teams acting as Mexico and Montenegro.
From the changing area to the playing court, they were asked to follow game protocols, including reacting to the live TV production.
The two World Cup teams’ national anthems were played, and the actors/players followed the schedule from the warm-up to the introduction of the final lineup.
The production crew covered the simulation like it was the actual game, while staffers, table officials and security acted as if it was the real thing.
“We’re ready and all set,” said venue manager Mark Solano.
MOA will host Groups C and D for the first round, Group J for the second round, the 17-32nd classification round, the quarterfinals, 5th-8th classification, battles for 5th and 7th, the semifinals, battle for 3rd place, and the finals.
For reporter, the MOA has also set the media center and catering areas for those covering from around the world.
It also has a media tribune that can accommodate more than 300 working journalists and photographers.