EIGHTEEN players from coach Yeng Guiao's 20-man pool led by Kai Sotto were at hand on Thursday as Team Pilipinas resumed its daily training for the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup qualifiers at the Meralco Gym.
June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro and Sotto led the attendees, who were coming off an 82-73 win in a tuneup game against Jordan on Wednesday that was cut short after shouting match between Guiao and counterpart Joseph Steibing.
Sotto, 16, missed the national team's last three practices - including the two tuneup games against Jordan - to focus on examination week at Ateneo.
The 7-foot-1 teen was supposed to play in the first game against Jordan on Monday alongside fellow cadet Ricci Rivero but begged off.
Joining the trio were Ginebra's LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, and Scottie Thompson, San Miguel's Alex Cabagnot, Marcio Lassiter, Christian Standhardinger, and Arwind Santos, Magnolia's Paul Lee, NorthPort's Stanley Pringle, Rain or Shine's Gabe Norwood Beau Belga, Phoenix's Matthew Wright, TNT's Troy Rosario, Blackwater's Poy Erram, and cadet Ricci Rivero.
Only Ginebra's Greg Slaughter and Ian Sangalang of Magnolia were absent on Thursday.
After a split against Jordan, Team Pilipinas will be facing Lebanon in another pair of exhibition games on Friday and Sunday.
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