Veteran coach Norman Black, tasked to helm Gilas Pilipinas for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Thailand later this year, is leaving no stone unturned to form a team capable of delivering a golden finish.
Part of the reason Black is so vigilant about forming a strong team for the SEA Games is the distinct possibility that some teams would recruit multiple imports to play for them—something Cambodia already did in the 2023 SEA Games, where they fielded five Americans in its basketball team. The tactic nearly paid off, as the hosts beat Gilas Pilipinas in the preliminaries and made it all the way to the gold-medal game—only to lose to the Philippines in their rematch.
Relaxed Eligibility Rules Mean More Imports
This practice can happen again in Thailand as eligibility rules at the SEA Games level are more lax compared to FIBA-sanctioned events. In the former, players usually only need a passport to play, whereas in the latter, other provisions need to be satisfied before eligibility is approved. Because of this, a repeat of the Cambodia fiasco is distinctly possible—and Norman Black knows it all too well.
“We’re thinking that might happen again where teams may just hire imports to play for their country so we have to prepare for that. That’s why we need the strongest possible team and most balanced possible team,” Black said during yesterday’s PSA Forum, where he was joined by Erika Dy, Executive Director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
Norman Black Reiterates the Ultimate Goal: Gold
Black also emphasized in the PSA Forum that he and the SBP are committed to getting the best players available to help in the pursuit of Gilas Pilipinas’ ultimate goal for the SEA Games: to win gold.
“The goal will definitely be to win the gold medal and we’ll do our best to try to get the best players and give us the best chance to win,” Black pointed out.
Black’s best seems to be paying off as the multi-titled coach has so far secured commitments from Gilas Pilipinas veterans Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Ray Parks, and Matthew Wright; highly touted Fil-Ams Remy Martin and Jason Brickman; MPBL standout and former PBA Draft pick Dave Ildefonso; and collegiate star Veejay Pre.
The former PBA import will be looking to win a second SEA Games gold after previously piloting the Philippines to a golden finish in the 2011 Jakarta Games.
