BY Rickie Santos
What’s really happening to the preparation of Gilas Pilipinas' Southeast Asian (SEA) Games title defense?
Beats us.
Some 11 weeks before the 33rd SEA Games gets underway in Thailand, our national dribblers and coaching staff should already be doing their initial preps – conditioning, scouting of the opposition, taking out of the playbooks, and making plans for the training camp.
But there seems to be a problem.
More than a month ago, multi-titled player and coach Norman Black was tapped by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to form and coach Bangkok-bound Gilas.
READ: Black lists 8 players committed to play for Gilas at SEA Games
Coach Norman didn’t waste time. He called and got the commitment of players who were seen as the core of national team. They were Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Ray Parks, Matthew Wright, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Remy Martin, and Veejay Pre.
Not bad. Naturalized Filipinos, veteran pros in foreign leagues, a U.S. NCAA champion, and last year’s UAAP Rookie of the Year. All certified top-notch talents.
Then Black was to complete his squad with skilled bigs from local collegiate leagues.
Remember, when he was last interviewed in the PSA Forum, Black was informed that “passports only” were needed for athletes playing in the SEA Games.
But recent reports have it in social media that the “passports only” eligibility was scrapped in basketball. Some said eligibility will follow FIBA rules. Others went further, saying naturalized citizens won’t be allowed to suit up and only players declared as locals by FIBA can see action.
Host Thailand loads up
There’s some confusion, but if the last report will be followed in the 33rd SEA Games basketball competition, many believe the Thais will have the edge.
Four Thai-foreigners have been declared as locals by FIBA and may play in the regional meet.
Leading this pack is 33-year-old Martin Breunig, who was born in Leverkusen, Germany to a Thai mother. Standing at 6-foot-8, Breunig played for Washington and Montana in college and now plays in German league Bundesliga, where he was named an All-Star in 2019.
Aside from Breunig, expect Frederick Lish, Moses Morgan, and Taylor Lamb to don Thailand threads in December.
All are mid to late 30s, but all can be problems for our defensive aces.
If naturalized big man Kouame and passport-holders Martin, Brickman, and Mike Phillips are out, there will be real headaches for Black and his staff.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone yesterday said that Quentin Millora-Brown is now part of the program. Fingers are crossed that SBP can talk to QMB for him to help in our SEA Games title defense.
READ: With QMB in, Tim Cone spoiled for choice in Gilas frontline
For sure, if it boils down to panic time, all leagues, from college to pros, can lend helping hands, so rabid Filipino basketball fans will have a merry Christmas.
In the meantime, our sports leaders should be burning phone signals with their Thai counterparts to clarify what eligibility rules will be followed in basketball.
With that, Black can make his next moves in finally forming his team.
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