RJ Abarrientos cracks final 12 as Gilas unveils roster for FIBA Qualifiers; Malonzo, JGDL, Rosario left out 

For more than a year, RJ Abarrientos’ name had hovered around every projected Gilas Pilipinas roster—a talent constantly on the radar, always in the pool, but never quite breaking through. This time, he finally did.

As Gilas Pilipinas locked in its Final 12 for the opening window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, Abarrientos emerged as one of the biggest winners of the cycle. The Barangay Ginebra guard was officially named to the national team lineup that will face Guam on the road this Friday, marking a long-awaited milestone in his steady rise.

His inclusion came at the expense of notable cuts: Juan Gomez de Liano, Jamie Malonzo, and Troy Rosario—all of whom were part of the final training stretch but ultimately left off the traveling roster.

Head coach Tim Cone acknowledged the gravity of those decisions, describing them as some of the most difficult roster calls he has made as national team coach.

“We the staff had to make some really, really tough decisions coming in with the Final 12 because everybody came to work. And there’s no reason for anybody to be in or out. Everybody probably should be in,” Cone said during Monday’s sendoff event hosted by ArenaPlus, Cignal, and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

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“So we had to make the tough decisions of keeping Juan (Gomez De Liano), Troy and Jamie. We’ll gonna keep them home and go with the 12.”

Joining Abarrientos in the Final 12 are fellow Ginebra standouts Scottie Thompson, Japeth Aguilar, and Justin Brownlee. Veterans June Mar Fajardo and Chris Newsome provide stability, while blue-chip talents Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, and Carl Tamayo reinforce the team’s youth movement.

CJ Perez returns as a proven two-way spark, while newcomer Quentin Millora-Brown—who impressed throughout camp—secures a spot in his first senior national team window.

The sendoff, held at the VIP Lounge of The Upper Deck Sports Center, was attended by SBP executive director Erika Dy, Gilas program director Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, and Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. president Jasper Vicencio.

Cone expressed measured confidence in the chosen group.

“These 12 are all ready to go. We’re happy we got everything done,” he said.

Chua, meanwhile, underlined the stakes.

“I think we’re ready and the players are focused. This is a very important window,” he noted.

After wrapping up their final Manila-based practice at The Upper Deck on Monday—less than 24 hours after breaking camp at Inspire Sports Center in Laguna—the Gilas delegation departs for Guam on Tuesday evening.

The first leg of the home-and-away series takes place Friday, 5 p.m. (Guam time), at the University of Guam Calvo Field House. The rematch follows on December 1, with Gilas hosting Guam at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym.

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