It is reported that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has tapped former PBA Head Coach Norman Black to lead the National Men’s Basketball team in the upcoming 33rd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 9 to 20.
Norman Black Back to Head Coaching Duties (?)
The news was first reported by Ralph Edwin Villanueva of Philstar, and then followed by another story from Tiebreaker Times.
According to Tiebreaker Times sources, Black has already reached out to several Filipino Asian Quota players currently playing in the B.League and KBL to inquire about their availability.
But since this is a bit far-fetched, the contingency plan would be to make up a team of top student-athletes from the UAAP, reinforced by either naturalized players Justin Brownlee or Angelo Kouame.
Players from eliminated teams during the PBA Philippine Cup may also be tapped.
A Solid Head Coaching Experience
Norman Black is a certified veteran Head Coach, going all the way back in 1987, when he handled the San Miguel Beermen. He then coached Mobiline, Sta. Lucia, Talk N’ Text Tropang Texters and Meralco Bolts.
He spent 9 years with both SMB and the Bolts.
He then also coached in the UAAP, handling the Ateneo Blue Eagles from 2005 to 2011.
Norman Black has been a certified winner and a champion both as a PBA import and a Head Coach, including in the collegiate ranks.
And in terms of international coaching? He once led the Gilas Pilipinas Junior team (known back then as the Sinag Pilipinas) to the gold medal in the 2011 SEA Games at Jakarta, Indonesia.
His players at that time were Kiefer Ravena, Chris Tiu, Chris Ellis, Cliff Hodge, Greg Slaughter, Dave Marcelo, Garvo Lanete, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jake Pascual, Emman Monfort, Nico Salva, and RR Garcia.
The Philippines is the defending champion of the SEA Games as they defeated Cambodia in the finals way back in 2023. The team is also eyeing to bag its 20th gold medal of the tournament.
Tim Cone Hinted that Gilas Doesn’t Want to Commit in SEA Games
It has been reported way back in May 2025 that current Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach, Tim Cone, is hesitant to participating in the SEA games for multiple understandable reasons.
Reasons like: conflict with the PBA’s 50th season schedule, his overseas players (Japan’s B League and South Korea’s KBL) not granted a release from their mother teams since this isn’t a FIBA-sanctioned tournament, as well as fatigue.
The opening window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers is scheduled from November 24 to December 2.
That being said, fans can understand why such withdrawal from the tournament was possibly imminent at that time.
