MANILA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' men's national basketball team may feature at the 2019 FIBA World Cup without star player Jayson Castro, head coach Yeng Guiao said on Monday.
Castro has asked to be excused from national team duties due to "personal priorities," Guiao said as the squad kicked off its phase one preparation for the World Cup on Monday.
The 32-year-old point guard, who has played internationally for the Philippines since the 2007 Southeast Asian Games, now plays his club basketball for TNT KaTropa of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
"He was asking for understanding for his situation because he has issues that are personal in nature," Guiao said.
"I told him, 'Okay, I know you have served the country for a long time.' And if it is because of his family, I don't think anybody can blame him," he added.
Asked what Castro is going through, Guiao said it will be better if Castro is the one to answer.
"I think he is the only person who can answer that. I don't want to be the one to answer regarding his personal issues," Guiao said.
As a member of the Philippines team which reached the World Cup in 2014, Castro played a key role in helping the country replicate that feat for a second time.
Castro returned from a three-game FIBA suspension and helped the Philippines string wins against Qatar and Kazakhstan in the last two Asian Qualifier matches that ultimately secured the team a ticket to the World Cup.
Although he felt confident that younger talents could fill the void, Guiao still hoped that one of his most reliable players may change his mind.
"I would want him on the team but the final say is with Jayson. If he says, 'I changed my mind, I want to play again,' I can easily give him a slot. But if he says, 'I want to rest,' then we have to look for somebody else," he said.
According to Guiao, the squad will be finalized in the next couple of days.
"We will issue the final list. You will see if he [Castro] will be there or not," Guiao concluded.
In preparation for the FIBA World Cup, the Philippines will leave for Spain in August to play a series of warm-up games before its first match against Italy on August 31, followed by Serbia on September 2 and Angola on September 4.
