By Art Ramirez

 

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas on Monday released its 18-man pool for Window 1 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

 

Headlining the pool is Gilas’ top naturalized player Justin Brownlee, with the Philippines scheduled to face Guam on November 28 and December 1 to start their bid to play in the World Cup for the fourth straight time.

 

Juan Gomez de Liaño, Quentin Millora-Brown, RJ Abarrientos, Troy Rosario, and naturalized player Ange Kouame are the new members of the pool that will start practicing on Tuesday at the Blue Eagle Gym.

 

Overseas-based players Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Kevin Quiambao, Carl Tamayo, and Jamie Malonzo also form part of the pool.

 

Rounding out the pool are other PBA players Scottie Thompson, June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, and Chris Newsome.

 

It is in this 18-man pool that Gilas Pilipinas will select its final 12 for the games against Guam, which will be a road affair on November 28.

 

Sotto, however, will not be under consideration for the final 12 as he is still recovering from an ACL injury from the Japan B.League campaign last season.

 

For the December 1 game, the Philippines will play host to Guam at the Blue Eagle Gym inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus.