Griffin, DeRozan, Pierce, Lillard to test Spain-bound Gilas Pilipinas

Before Gilas Pilipinas flies out to Spain, they will get to play in front of the Filipino fans one last time. Their pick up game will surely be a barn-burner as it will be against superstars from the NBA. Billed as The Last Home Stand and presented by PLDT Home the Philippine National Basketball Team will be pitted against the PLDT Home FIBR All Stars.

Gilas head coach Chot Reyes announced through his Twitter account four NBA players who would be participating in the event.

Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers, Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors and Paul Pierce of the Brooklyn Nets were the names mentioned by Reyes but there could be more players added to the visiting team.

DeRozan is already slated to fly to the Philippines but the announcement of the three other superstars was first done by Reyes. The event is scheduled for July 22 and 23.

Back in 2011 during the NBA lockout, Manny V. Pangilinan spearheaded the Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The event pitted Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and other in two pick-up games against PBA All-Stars and the first edition of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas.

DeRozan and Lillard are two of the brightest up and coming stars in the NBA. DeRozan is a big dunker and an able score while Lillard is one of the deadliest shooters specially when the game is on the line.

Fans of the Boston Celtics would also appreciate the arrival of Pierce, a player who often professed his love for the Philippines in different interviews.

The presence of Griffin alone will also cover the price of admission as he has turned out to be one of the NBA's most exciting players because of his leaping ability. Back in 2011, Griffin was said to have expressed interest in joining Bryant, Durant, Paul, and Rose in the Philippines but a conflict in schedule disallowed him from doing so.