The recent ruling by the SEA Games Organizing Committee to follow FIBA’s eligibility policy poses a severe challenge to SBP in forming a competitive national squad with strong chances to retain the gold medal in men’s 5x5 basketball in Thailand on Dec. 9-20.
Even without adhering to FIBA’s strict conditions on eligibility pertaining to the recruitment of naturalized players, the SEA Games won’t be an easy puzzle for SBP because of schedule conflicts. The PBA, UAAP, NCAA, Japan B-League and Korean Basketball League (KBL) will be in season during the coming biennial conclave so sourcing players for Gilas is a major concern. At the moment, neither SBP executive director Erika Dy nor Gilas project director Alfrancis Chua has a solution to the problem. But for certain, they’ll come up with something workable.
Dy said she’s optimistic of finding a way. “We’re exploring many options as we just got the rules last week,” she said. “What is sure now is that all stakeholders are willing to contribute.” What it means is the PBA, UAAP and NCAA won’t hardline their positions. Unfortunately, the Japan B-League and KBL aren’t SBP stakeholders so Carl Tamayo, Kevin Quiambao, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu and if he’s cleared to play, Kai Sotto won’t be available for the SEA Games. The three domestic leagues will take a break from their schedules to give way to the FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window on Nov. 24-Dec. 2. The break could extend to cover the SEA Games but there will be changes in the lineup related to the availability of players from the B-League and KBL. Gilas coach Tim Cone has maintained a compact pool so far but for the SEA Games, he may expand it to plug the overseas players’ spots.
FIBA rules don’t allow foreign-born players to represent countries unless they were issued passports before turning 16 or join as naturalized players In the last SEA Games where the Philippines regained the men’s 5x5 basketball gold, coach Chot Reyes had the luxury of lining up Fil-foreigners who received their passports after turning 16, namely, Christian Standhardinger, Chris Ross, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Michael Philips. Under the new SEA Games eligibility rule, the four won’t be eligible in Thailand. The rule will also strike out four of the five naturalized players who led Cambodia to a silver finish in 2023. Only one naturalized player will be permitted for each country so Cambodia has to choose from among Darius Henderson, Dwayne Morgan, Brandon Peterson, Sayeed Pridgett and Oscar Lopez. For Gilas, Justin Brownlee has the lock on the ticket for a naturalized player.
The last Gilas team to the SEA Games included PBA players Marcio Lassiter, Jerom Lastimosa, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez and Arvin Tolentino aside from the Fil-foreigners. Mason Amos was on the roster as a collegiate player with Philips. It looks like the PBA will again be called on to adjust its schedule and allow players to rep the country in Thailand.