JAYSON Castro and Troy Rosario are expected to get their roster back in Team Pilipinas when it plays Iran in its final home game in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers on Monday.
Castro and Rosario served out the last of the three-game suspension meted on them by FIBA Friday night in a losing cause again Kazakhstan, 92-88, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Available again, coach Yeng Guiao disclosed the two TnT Katropa stalwarts will be part of the team’s 12-man roster for the 7 p.m. match opposite the Iranians.
“Troy Rosario and Jayson Castro are going to be in that line-up. I think there suspension is over. I’m sure they can make contributions in that effort,” said Guiao in his post-game presser following the loss to Kazakhstan.
Guiao and his coaching staff will submit to FIBA its official roster for the Iran game on Saturday.
The 32-year-old Castro in particular will come in handy for the host as Stanley Pringle is set to sit out the game in favour of naturalized player Christian Standhardinger.
“Even if Stanley is not able to play, if Jayson is there I think there’s still enough presence in the point guard that Jayson can provide for us to be able to play a good game on Monday.”
Pringle topcored for the Filipinos with 29 points and went 11-of-23 from the field while adding three rebounds and four assists.
Guiao said the team will surely miss the contributions of Pringle, but believes those can be offset by the entry of the hardworking 6-foot-7 Standhardinger.
“We will lose Stanley’s scoring, his aggressiveness, his leadership at the point guard position, but we will gain Christian’s quickness and active plays which we lacked today with our bigs,” added Guiao.”
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