NATIONAL coach Yeng Guiao will most likely stick with his initial plan to field Stanley Pringle in place of fellow naturalized player Christian Standhardinger in the first window of the Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers second round.
Guiao said Pringle will most likely play against Qatar on Monday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum despite Standhardinger’s performance away to Iran where the Fil-German scored 30 points and 12 rebounds in the Philippines' 81-73 loss.
Countries are limited to just one naturalized player per game. Both Pringle and Standhardinger are Fil-foreigners but aren't eligible to play as locals under Fiba rules because they failed to secure Philippine passports before turning 16.
“Doon sa naturalized decision, nasabi ko naman na before na mag-aalternate sila so as good as Christian played in the first game, I think we have to give Stanley a chance naman to prove himself also,” Guiao told SPIN.ph on Saturday night.
“More or less, 90 percent na ‘yun. ‘Yung other 10 percent, it’s just giving ourselves that leeway to change our minds. But more or less, 90 percent,” said Guiao.
Also set for a call-up against Qatar are Matthew Wright and Japeth Aguilar, who have served their one-game suspension for their role in the infamous brawl between the Philippines and Australia on July 2 at the Philippine Arena.
“Hindi pa lang namin alam kung sino ang papalitan nila sa ngayon,” Guiao said.
The decisions, though, will not be easy since the absence of Standhardinger, coupled by the injuries that kept out Greg Slaughter and June Mar Fajardo, will leave the Philippine frontline vulnerable unless Guiao brings in the 6-9 Aguilar.
Wright, on the other hand, should be a welcome addition after the Filipino's gunners went an ice-cold 5-of-28 against Iran.
The question now is on who Team Pilipinas will leave out.
Guiao expressed confidence Pringle will be able to contribute as well as Standhardinger when Team Pilipinas faces Qatar in a closed-door match at the Big Dome.
“I’m very confident that he will make a contribution. If not as big as the numbers of Christian, maybe doon sa overall objective of making the team look good from the point guard decision naman,” said Guiao.
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