By REYNALD MAGALLON
It seems like there will be no shortage of talent for Gilas Pilipinas in its title defense in the Southeast Asian Games even without the core of the national team under head coach Tim Cone.
With some of the current Gilas players expected to miss the biennial event, plenty of amateur and overseas talents have already expressed interest in donning the PH colors – some even already sent a copy of their Philippine passports.
Gilas mainstay Kevin Quiambao as well as newest addition to the pool Quentin Millora-Brown have both opened up the possibility of joining the team which will be headed by Meralco consultant Norman Black in place of Cone.
Other overseas players who once donned Gilas jerseys in the past, likewise, wanted to make their national team comeback through the SEA Games. Among those are Korean Basketball League player SJ Belangel and Japan B.League imports Matthew Wright and Ray Parks Jr. who happened to be Black godson.
Of course, the biggest issue for their availability is whether their mother teams will be able to release them for the biennial meet. The SEA Games is not part of the FIBA calendar and therefore overseas leagues are not obligated to release their players to the national team.
For one, the SEAG which is set to happen in Bangkok, Thailand, is scheduled on Dec. 9 to 20 and could run smack to their respective league schedules.
Aside from Filipino players in the other leagues, a few other overseas-based cagers have also expressed their intent to join the national team.
Former US NCAA standouts Remy Martin, Kihei Clark and Boogie Ellis were among the names although the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is still awaiting the rules and regulation from the SEA Games organizing committee regarding the player eligibility.
There was initial news that the 2025 edition of the regional meet could adapt the FIBA ruling on player eligibility.
From the local scene, UAAP standouts Mason Amos and Mike Phillips as well as free agents Juan and Javi Gomez De Liano and Jason Brickman have all expressed interest. Also reportedly part of Black’s wishlist are Greg Slaughter and Francis Lopez
The team could be reinforced by Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame, although the former should fill the naturalized player slot should the SEA Games apply the FIBA eligibility rules.
SBP nor Black, however, have yet to announce the official pool of players for SEAG.
