CAN an injury-plagued Gilas Pilipinas five hack it against a Lebanon side missing its main man Wael Arakji?
That will be known tonight when the Filipino cagers square off with the Lebanese in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The match is set at 6 p.m. at the 55,000-seat venue, with Gilas raring to redeem itself from a heart-rending 81-85 loss to the Cedars in the fourth round of the qualifiers last August despite the presence of NBA player Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz.
The nationals take on Jordan three days later at the same arena.
Naturalized Filipino player Justin Brownlee will suit up in his first game for Gilas, with coach Chot Reyes tapping reigning PBA MVP Scottie Thompson and June Mar Fajardo to banner his 12-man line-up against Lebanon.
Also making the roster are Japan B. League standouts Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena, Dwight Ramos, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Jordan Heading and pro league stars CJ Perez, Jamie Malonzo, and Calvin Oftana, and Ateneo big man Mason Amos.
Prized 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto (Japan), Carl Tamayo (Japan), naturalized center Kouame (recovering from malaria), and Japeth Aguilar (MCL) have been ruled for the final window, while Pogoy was added to the unavailable players due to bone bruise on his foot.
The 6-foot-4 Arakji, who was named the FIBA Asia Cup MV last year after steering Lebanon to the Promised Land, was part of the initial 24-man pool that Lebanon submitted to the FIBA.
Arakji proved to be a bane for Gilas in the fourth window after he dropped 24 points, including the key baskets, when his team battled the Philippines the last time out.
Without Arakji, the Lebanese will rely on Amir Saoud and Sergio El Darwich.
Gilas team failed in its golden mission in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May and missed the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta for the first time since 2007 last July.
