EVEN the Gilas Women was affected with the eligibility rules for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Head coach Pat Aquino said Stefanie Berberabe and Gabi Bade were not included in the Gilas line-up as they are considered as naturalized players.
“They got their passport after the age of 16 so they are considered as naturalized,” said Aquino.
READ: Phillips, Ganuelas Rosser, Martin out of Gilas' SEA Games lineup
Berberabe and Bade were members of the Gilas Women team that clinched the gold in the Hanoi SEA Games in 2021.
Berberabe was also with Gilas Pilipinas Women when it captured the silver medal in the Cambodia SEA Games in 2023.
Berberabe and Bade have been training with the national team and playing in the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
Gilas Pilipinas Men was greatly affected by the decision of the Thailand SEA Games Organizing Committee to bar naturalized players in the biennial meet.
Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame are no longer part of the Gilas team. Remy Martin, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Mike Phillips are also set to be dropped to the pool as their status is still in question by the organizers.
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