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Gilas Men's Coach Norman Black Names First Batch Of Players For SEA Games
FILE
Gilas Pilipinas Men’s head coach Norman Black has revealed the first set of players who have committed to represent the country in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this December.
Black admitted the process has been far from easy, citing challenges in securing player releases, especially from teams abroad. Still, he confirmed that Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Ray Parks, Jimmy Martin, Matt Wright, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, and V.J. Craig are all on board.
“We still have four slots left. Hopefully we can add big men, because if you look at the names I just gave you, we lack size,” Black said. He noted that the UAAP could play a key role in filling this gap, given the number of promising young bigs in the league. However, this would require adjustments to accommodate both the SEA Games and UAAP schedules.
The coach also acknowledged that overseas leagues have been reluctant to release Filipino players, particularly in Korea and Japan. This has limited Gilas’ options, but Black remains optimistic about building a competitive roster.
On eligibility concerns, Black clarified that the SEA Games passport rule has become less restrictive, making it easier for players to join even if they did not secure their passports before turning 16.
With practice time expected to be tight—since many of the committed players are still tied to their respective teams—Black is hoping to get at least a week and a half of preparation before the tournament.
“At this point, the most important thing is to put together a solid team, get them here, and make the most out of the time we’ll have,” he said.
Black admitted the process has been far from easy, citing challenges in securing player releases, especially from teams abroad. Still, he confirmed that Justin Brownlee, Ange Kouame, Ray Parks, Jimmy Martin, Matt Wright, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, and V.J. Craig are all on board.
“We still have four slots left. Hopefully we can add big men, because if you look at the names I just gave you, we lack size,” Black said. He noted that the UAAP could play a key role in filling this gap, given the number of promising young bigs in the league. However, this would require adjustments to accommodate both the SEA Games and UAAP schedules.
The coach also acknowledged that overseas leagues have been reluctant to release Filipino players, particularly in Korea and Japan. This has limited Gilas’ options, but Black remains optimistic about building a competitive roster.
On eligibility concerns, Black clarified that the SEA Games passport rule has become less restrictive, making it easier for players to join even if they did not secure their passports before turning 16.
With practice time expected to be tight—since many of the committed players are still tied to their respective teams—Black is hoping to get at least a week and a half of preparation before the tournament.
“At this point, the most important thing is to put together a solid team, get them here, and make the most out of the time we’ll have,” he said.
Sep 5, 2025
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