Defending its home turf will not be easy as Gilas Pilipinas is stacked against a pair of powerful foes in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers later this month.
According to the preliminary rosters released by the International Basketball Federation, sharpshooter Wael Arakji and former National Basketball Association campaigner Norvel Pelle will see action for Lebanon when it faces Gilas on 24 February at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Regarded as the best guard in Asia after emerging as Most Valuable Player in the FIBA Asia Cup, Arakji proved to be the biggest thorn in the Filipinos’ path when he knocked down a heartbreaking three-pointer in the final 16.3 seconds that gave the Lebanese an 85-81 victory over Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto and Gilas squad in the fourth window in Beirut.
Pelle, for his part, is a high-leaping slotman from Antigua who saw action for the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks and Utah Jazz.
Aside from Arakji and Pelle, also part of the Lebanese side are Ariz Abdel Massih, Jonathan Arledge, Elie Chamoun, Sergio El Darwich, Karim Raphael Ezzedine, Hayk Gyokchyan, Gerald Hadidian, Ali Haidar, Ahmad Ibrahim, Omar Jemaleddine, Jean Marc Jarrouj, Jad Khalil, Yousef Khayat, Marc Khouiery, Ater Majok, Ali Mansour, Ali Mezher, Naim Rabay, Gabrielle Maurice Philippe Salibi, Amir Saoud, Mousa Shouman and Karim Zeinoun.
It, however, remains unclear whom between the Sudan-born Majok or the United States-born Arledge will be deployed as naturalized player by the Lebanese.
On the same note, winning over Jordan on 27 February will not be easy.
The Jordanians will again parade their naturalized player in Dar Tucker, who averaged 20.3 points per game, including a 31-point explosion in their 92-75 triumph over powerhouse New Zealand in the fifth window.
Aside from Tucker, another player to watch is Ahmad Al Dwairi, a 6-foot-11 center who has been averaging double-double production of 12.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.
Jordan’s 24-man pool also include Hashem Abbaas, Zaid Abbas, Mahmoud Abdeen, Amin Abu Hawwas, Khaled Abuaboud, Yousef AbuWazaneh, Mousa Alawadi, Ahmad Alhamarsheh, Ashraf Alhendi, Caden Alnajdawi, John Bohannon, Sami Bzai, Mahmoud Hazaymeh, Mohammad Hussein, Freddy Ibrahim, Malek Kanaan, Mousa Mutleq, Fadi Nader Qarmash, and Nader Suleiman.
Gilas, for their part, will be marching with a depleted roster.
Kai Sotto, the 7-foot-2 slotman who is being groomed to become the first homegrown player to play in the NBA, will not suit up due to personal reason as well as injured centers Ange Kouame, Japeth Aguilar and Poy Erram.
Although Gilas retooled their roster by adding naturalized player Justin Brownlee with young guns in Mason Amos, Jerom Lastimosa, and Kevin Quiambao as well as 41-year-old Kelly Williams, the fact remains that winning over the Lebanese and Jordanians in their home turf will not be easy.
