Team Pilipinas - Greg Slaughter should not be part of the final line-up

(c) PBA Media Bureau

Coach Yeng Guiao will be spoiled with choices for the upcoming window of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

For the first time in Gilas history, the coach was really allowed to pick out the names that he wants to be part of the pool, without any restriction, from the lists of PBA players. 

That is a good thing for the success of the team but that will provide a big problem for coach Yeng when it is time to finalize the 12 players that will play in the upcoming window.

The frontline could be the hardest one to form.


His choices will be Christian Standhardinger, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Kai Sotto, JP Erram and Beau Belga.

Of course, coach Yeng should not carry all the six of them because he also needs to fill out the wing and guard rotation. 

I think he will come up with four names out of that six for the final 12. So, the question is, who are the two who will not play?

I think Kai Sotto is not yet ready. I do not think he can be an effective rim protector at the highest level of competition in FIBA. 

Who should be the 2nd player who should be out of the line-up?

I think it is down to JP Erram, Beau Belga and Greg Slaughter.

The ability of Erram to protect the rim and hit from beyond the arc is important for the team because he is the only big who can do that.

So, Greg Slaughter or Beau Belga?
I will go with Belga. Why?

Slaughter's skillset is redundant to what Fajardo and Standhardinger brings. He is a big post scorer, who can hit midrange shots and will provide a scare to players who slash inside the paint.

Without an outside shot, it will be hard to play him with Fajardo and Standhardinger.

Thus, the roster spot is better used for Belga who can shoot from beyond the arc and will provide physicality in the squad.