‘BIG’ HELP WANTED
Coach Norman Black admitted that forming the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the Thailand Southeast Asian Games remains a difficult process even after he has secured commitments from eight players.
“We’re hoping to be able to add some big men because the names I gave to you lack big men,” Black told reporters during the PBA Draft Combine on Friday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame and Remy Martin, plus Japan B.League imports Ray Parks Jr. and Matthew Wright, MPBL’s Dave Ildefonso, PBA draftee Jason Brickman and University of the Philippines redshirt Veejay Pre are the names Black announced as those expected to suit up for the biennial meet set Dec. 9 to Dec. 20.
And based on the list Black bared, the eligibility won’t be as strict as initially thought of as only a Philippine passport is required to be able to suit up for the Games. There were initial rumblings that Fiba rules would be applied in Thailand as a basis for a player to be given the okay to play.
“In a way, it made it a lot easier to recruit because they didn’t need to get their passport before the age of 16,” said Black.
Still, Black has gotten some lukewarm responses from teams overseas, and he’s still seeking the nod of the UAAP in order for those players he had already talked with to join the Gilas squad.
There’s also the small chance of having some PBA players in the mix, though the league will be in the midst of the Philippine Cup by the time the regional meet rolls on.
“We’re hoping to get some consideration from the UAAP, because they have a lot of big men that could help you, and they’re young,” said Black. “So we’re hoping [that the UAAP can] make some adjustments to allow some of their players in the SEA Games.”
Winning combo
Brownlee and Kouame were part of the gold-winning 2023 team in Cambodia, defeating the host country that had about six naturalized players.
Martin, meanwhile, has been on the Gilas radar for years, and Black said that he expects the former Kansas guard to come in before the end of November.
Parks and Wright apparently got the green lights from their B.League clubs, while Ildefonso is currently with MPBL leader Abra. How Brickman can play will depend on which PBA team selects him in the Draft on Sunday.
Pre, meanwhile, had just transferred from Far Eastern University, and his availability seems to be fine given that he’s in the process of completing a one-year residency in the UAAP.
But until the Gilas roster finally takes strong shape, Black acknowledged that there’s still uncertainty as to when the preparation gets underway full time.
