CHICAGO - The casting call is over. The coaching staff at Gilas Pilipinas has chosen the Final 12-man roster for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
As expected, per orders from the Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP), the list is being guarded tighter than the gold at Fort Knox.
READ: Chot coy as Gilas down to 13 in open practice
But multiple sources have revealed bits and pieces that, when put together, will make the Gilas 12 look this way.
2) Scottie Thompson
3) Dwight Ramos
4) Japeth Aguilar
5) June Mar Fajardo
6) AJ Edu
7) Kai Sotto
8) Jamie Malonzo
9) CJ Perez
10) Roger Pogoy
11) Kiefer Ravena
12) Rhenz Abando
Nothing is official, of course, until the SBP makes the announcement on Wednesday before the deadline coinciding with the technical meeting.
But even before the big reveal, three players from the 16-man pool in Ray Parks, Thirdy Ravena, and Calvin Oftana were not around in Gilas open practice on Tuesday night.
Ravena and Parks also sat out Gilas' final three pre-World Cup tuneups against Ivory Coast, Montenegro and Mexico.
Although Oftana played in the friendlies, sources said he was already informed by Gilas officials that he is out of the Final 12.
The fourth and final cut, sources said, is Chris Newsome, who was present on Tuesday as he has been since the original 21-man pool was called to practice.
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