Chot names Gilas Pilipinas Final 12 for SEA Games

Collegiate standouts Jerom Lastimosa and La Salle banger Michael Phillips were named to the Gilas Pilipinas final 12 as the Filipinos gear up in their Southeast Asian Games men’s basketball title-redemption bid in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Lastimosa and the 6-foot-8 Phillips will be making their SEA Games debut on May 9, Tuesdaywhen Gilas takes on unpredictable Malaysia in the opening day of the basketball group stage.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas announced the official Gilas roster on Sunday through its social media platforms.

The two collegiate stars join naturalized player Justin Brownlee, along with veterans led by Filipino-German big man Christian Standhardinger, CJ Perez, Chris Newsome, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter.

The rest of the Philippine version of the “Redeem Team” include Arvin Tolentino, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Calvin Oftana, and incoming UAAP freshman Mason Amos.

The Philippines, which saw its 33-year basketball rule in the region come to an end in last year’s edition in Hanoi, Vietnam, faces Cambodia on May 11), before closing its group stage assignment versus Singapore (May 13).

Indonesia, which snatched the gold from the Philippines last year, is looking to defend its crown and is bracketed in Group B along with dangerous Thailand, Vietnam and Laos.