HANDANG makiisa sa tryouts sina Beermen guards Marcio Lassiter at Alex Cabagnot. Ang dalawa ay kabilang sa mga manlalarong inimbitahan ni interim head coach Yeng Guiao na naniniwalang malaki ang maitutulong ng dalawa upang palakasin ang ating kampanya sa darating na window ng Qualifiers kung saan makakalaban ng Nationals ang Iran at Qatar.

“I’m very excited… I’m excited and humbled at the same time. Just to have opportunity to be in the pool and serve my country and to help it any way possible,” pahayag ni Cabagnot na sa unang pagkakataon ay ipinatawag para sa National Team.

“I don’t have any words to describe it.”

“It’s an honor,” wika naman ni Lassiter sa naunang panayam sa kanila ng Tiebreaker Times.“I can’t explain into words how much it means to me, to be chosen for the national team. It’s definitely an honor and privilege and thankful for the opportunity."

'Pikon daw?' UAAP fan na nag-dirty finger, agaw-eksena sa San Juan Arena!

Matagal nang hinihiling ng mga fans na mapasama sina Cabagnot at Lassiter sa national team dahil na rin sa larong ipinapakita nila para sa Beermen.

“I know it’s been a while, but at the same time I knew eventually I would be there, but I couldn’t tell you when. It was a matter of time. I’m just glad to be in this pool," dagdag ni Lassiter na isa sa pioneer ng Gilas program noong 2011. Batid din ng dalawa na kailangan nilang magtrabaho at makipagkompitensiya upang makakuha ng slot sa final 12 na ihahayag sa susunod na linggo.

“Well there’s no security, you’re all gonna work for it. It’s not gonna be easy. We’re gonna go there and compete,” ani Lassiter.

“Definitely an honor – being in the pool is an honor. I have to be thankful, and see what happens next.”