MANILA, Philippines - All-NBA First Team guard James Harden, one-time NBA champion Tyson Chandler and 2010 NBA All-Rookie Team member Brandon Jennings complete the Fibr All-Star roster that is coming over to play Gilas Pilipinas in a pair of dream matches in The Last Home Stand All-Star Charity Event on July 22-23 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Harden, Chandler and Jennings have just made the NBA selection of coach John Lucas a lot more formidable with additional strength on wing spot, frontline and at the backcourt.
“WOW! Completing our Fibr AllStars is 1st Team All-League guard James Harden w Tyson Chandler & Brandon Jennings. Game na! #GilasLastHOMEStand <https://twitter.com/hashtag/GilasLastHOMEStand?src=hash> ,” said business tycoon and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan in announcing on Twitter the completion of the NBA team.
Pangilinan himself announced earlier the inclusion in the team of Blake Griffin, Paul Pierce, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Demar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Nick Johnson, Terrence Ross and Paul George.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes expressed excitement over the NBA team formed to provide them two tune-up matches that they hope will help them in their buildup for the coming FIBA World Cup.
“Grabe, James Harden we have a 1st team AllStar. Tyson Chandler gives them a legit Center & Brandon Jennings gives them 3 PGs to match ours,” said Reyes on his Twitter account.
It’s a virtual US-Philippines setto with nearly all members of the Fibr team being part of the US national pool for the Spain world meet.
Harden and Chandler were both members of the gold-medal winning US team in the 2012 London Olympics. They’re in the current US pool together with Griffin, Leonard, George and Lillard.
The US team is set to start its own preparation for the World Cup late this month.
Harden is coming back for another game versus a Phil pool, being a part of the NBA team played by the Rajko Toroman-mentored Gilas team in 2012.
An All-NBA First Team in the last NBA season and a two-time NBA All-Star, the Houston Rockets main man is the biggest star in the Manila-bound US team.