A tall, athletic and versatile Gilas Pilipinas team has been formed armed with a mission of emerging as the top Asian team in the FIBA Basketball World Cup that the country will host starting Friday at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue,
Bulacan.

Led by 7-foot-3 rising star in Kai Sotto, a pair of 6-foot-10 slotmen in June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu and an athletic forward in 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar, the team formed by Gilas coach Chot Reyes and his deputies in Tim Cone, Jong Uichico and Josh Reyes is regarded as the tallest ever in Philippine basketball.

Joining the four giants will be National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson as well as fan-favorite Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Roger Pogoy, and CJ Perez as well as international campaigners Dwight Ramos, Kiefer Ravena and Rhenz Abando.

Fajardo and Aguilar will serve as the team's elder statesmen as they are entering their third World Cup appearance after seeing action in the 2014 edition in Spain and 2019 tourney in China.

They are tipped to guide the young towers in Sotto and Edu as well as other first-timers like Clarkson, Thompson, Malonzo, Ramos and Abando.

SBP president Al Panlilio couldn't wait to see the "balanced" Gilas squad in action.

"It's a balanced and good team," Panlilio told DAILY TRIBUNE in a Viber message.

"I'm excited and can't wait for the games to begin."

Forming the squad wasn't easy.

Reyes initially came up with a 21-man pool but players like Carl Tamayo and Erram suffered injuries while Jordan Heading didn't report for training even as naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame were deployed to the 19th
Asian Games and the William Jones Cup, respectively.

After their friendly matches against Ivory Coast, Montenegro and Mexico, the 16-man pool was further reduced with Thirdy Ravena, Calvin Oftana and Ray Parks getting cut while Chris Newsome was let go to comprise the final 12-man
roster.