JUDGING from the initial list of players who have expressed willingless to play for flag and country at the coming Southeast Asian Games, Gilas Pilipinas' defense of the gold medal will be in good hands four months from now.
Sources bared to SPIN.ph a list of college stars and overseas-based standouts who have either expressed willingness to play for Gilas in Bangkok or, better yet, submitted copies of their passports to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) or coach Norman Black.
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The star-studded list includes Korea-based players Kevin Quiambao and SJ Belangel, newly minted Gilas local player Quentin Millora-Brown, and Japan B.League Asian imports Matthew Wright and Ray Parks, who happens to be Black's godson.
Also submitting copies of their passports to Black and the SBP are former US NCAA standouts Remy Martin, Boogie Ellis, and Kihei Clark, UAAP stars Mike Phillips and Mason Amos, as well as Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano and Jason Brickman.
The list isn't even complete yet.
There were fears over Gilas' ability to put together a competitive team for the title defense after the PBA indicated that it will be in the middle of its season during the SEA Games and only a small percentage of its players will likely be available.
But the initial list should ease most of those concerns, especially since the pool will likely be reinforced by naturalized player Justin Brownlee.
However, the composition of the Gilas team to the December 9-20 Games will be dictated by, one, the eligibility rules to be rolled out by the Thailand SEA Games organizing committee and, two, permission from the players' mother teams.
Although reports emanating from Bangkok indicate that FIBA has asked SEA Games organizers to adopt its eligibility rules [meaning only one naturalized player and locals who have secured passports before turning 16], sources bared a final decision on the matter has not been made.
If the FIBA eligibility rule is adopted, Black, sources bared, will be compelled to form a team made up Brownlee, college stars like Phillips and Amos and perhaps Kean Baclaan, and pro players based in Korea and Japan.
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Under such a scenario, the biggest hurdle would be securing the release of players based in Korea and Japan from their mother teams and leagues. The SEA Games isn't considered an international window under the Fiba calendar.
If the SEA Games enforces the 'passports-only' rule, US-based standouts like Martin, Clark, and Ellis will come into consideration as well as Fil-foreign players in the PBA and Gilas' back-up naturalized player Ange Kouame.
Either Gilas is confident of putting up a good team.
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