Gilas Pilipinas will have 3 new faces at the upcoming 2025 Southeast Asian Games to be played in Bangkok, Thailand this December.
More Youth for the Philippine National Team
The Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team just got younger with the additions of De la Salle University Green Archer big man Mike Phillips and Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagle one-and-done forward Kymani Ladi.
Asian import from the Euroleague, Thirdy Ravena, also joins the squad formed by veteran PBA Head Coach Norman Black.
Having Thirdy be part of the team is an extra boost, considering he is one of the few players considered as a “veteran in international basketball competitions”.
The former Blue Eagle has played as an Asian import in the Japan’s B League for 4 years and is now part of the Dubai team since 2024.
While the UAAP Superstars Ladi and Phillips will be an asset to Gilas as Mike was part of the National Team that won gold in the 2023 SEA Games at Cambodia while Kymani’s size, skill and shooting is perfect for international tournaments playing the Forward position.
Not Part of the Tim Cone Gilas
Despite not being revealed to the public yet who will be the coaching staff of the former Meralco Bolts and Talk N’ Text Head Coach, it is definitely certain that this Gilas squad isn’t connected at all to the National Team formed by Tim Cone.
Multi-titled PBA Head Coach Tim Cone has insisted that his version of Gilas must stick together going forward for the next couple of years for “continuity purposes”.
Thirdy, Kymani and Mike will join the other Gilas players of Norman Black which are:
Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Remy Martin, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Matthew Wright, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., and Veejay Pre.
Leaving 1 Final Roster Spot Open for a Big Man
With now 11 players in his team, Head Coach Norman Black is keeping one final roster spot open for a Big Man.
Though he didn’t mention any player he wishes to have, recently localized player Quentin Millora-Brown is surely not part of his options.
In a televised interview with former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala during the “Power and Play” radio program, Black revealed that QMB becoming a local had an effect on his participation in the SEA Games.
“To be quite honest with you, his agent might not be too happy with me, but he actually committed to play. His agent committed him to play. Things changed when he got his passport. Now, he is committed to play for the men’s team. What can I do about that? I only go by what they say. But in the beginning, he was actually committed to play for this team,”
Despite not having his 6-foot-10 UP Fighting Maroons Alumni in his team, the former PBA Head Coach champion remained positive towards the challenges he’s facing.
“My attitude towards this is I’m going to put together the best team that I can. And I’m going to go there and try to win the championship. That’s my attitude,” he said.
“Those who want to play, I welcome them. Those who have other plans, I can’t get stuck with that.”
Options for his 12th Man: UAAP? NCAA? Greg Slaughter?
With only Ange Kouame and Mike Phillips being a legit Center/Power Forward for this Gilas team, who can they pick for the 3rd big which most likely will come off the bench?
There are multiple options here, in the ongoing UAAP Season 88, there’s Gani Stevens from UP and Cedrick Manzano from Adamson University.
For the NCAA Season 101 there’s Patrick Sleat of the University of Perpetual Help DALTA.
Then there’s the former #1 PBA Overall Pick, Greg Slaughter who stands at 7-feet tall.
Norman Black can definitely pick whoever big man that he wants at this point as his team, even the 12th man not making contributions, can put up a good fight and win the gold medal.
Heck, PBA can even still be an option, he just needs to pick someone who’s team has already been eliminated.
Who knows, he might even get former PBA champion Christian Standhardinger out of retirement!
But needless to say, this Gilas squad, despite being young and inexperienced in international basketball tournaments can win games and have a podium finish come December.
Changes on the Lineup…soon?
Black explained that the current lineup was formed under the assumption that passport possession will serve as the main eligibility requirement for this year’s SEA Games in Bangkok. However, he noted that adjustments could be made if the “passport-only” rule is revised before the tournament kicks off on December 9.
