Eager to recover from its slump, Gilas Pilipinas is now applying finishing touches on its national pool that will see action in the second round of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers later this month.

Sonny Barrios, the newly-appointed spokesperson of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), yesterday said National Basketball Association (NBA) stalwart Jordan Clarkson is confirmed to see action together with a solid cast of players who will be given the marching order of redeeming the country's lost pride in the international arena.

Joining Clarkson in the national pool is a stellar cast of competitors bannered by Gilas mainstays Dwight Ramos, Thirdy and Kiefer Ravena and Ray Parks.

Also making the pool are frontcourt youngsters Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao as well as rising star LeBron Lopez.

But Clarkson, the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2021, will have to play as a naturalized player, which means that Angelo Kouame has to sit out should he formalize his entry.

"He won't be able to play as a local and we have already accepted that his classification in FIBA (International Basketball Federation) is naturalized," said Barrios during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum yesterday.

"We tried really hard to push for it."

"But we will use him as a naturalized (player). There's no turning back."

Barrios, however, deferred to name the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) players included in the pool as the federation will reveal the complete list after the ongoing Philippine Cup semifinals.

The all-Filipino tourney is already halfway through with TNT Tropang Giga and Magnolia, as well as Meralco and San Miguel Beer facing off in Game 4 today.

The Nationals will battle Lebanon in Beirut on the 25th, before returning to the Mall of Asia Arena against Saudi Arabia four days later.

"So far, we have Mr. Clarkson and those who are playing abroad like Dwight, the Ravena brothers and Bobby Parks," Barrios said.