Gilas Pilipinas Faces Turbulence in Finalizing SEA Games Basketball Roster

The path to finalizing Gilas Pilipinas’ men’s basketball roster for the Southeast Asian Games was marked by significant challenges, as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) revealed a complex and drawn-out selection process. What was initially a straightforward task became complicated by unexpected rule changes and scheduling conflicts.

By September, Gilas had a stable 12-man lineup prepared. However, this was disrupted when Thailand, the host nation, introduced a ban on naturalized players, forcing the SBP to overhaul the composition of its team. These shifting eligibility criteria forced last-minute adjustments and fuelled uncertainty around the tournament format.

Further complications arose when the MPBL National Finals unfolded, requiring the commitments of key players Geo Chiu, Jason Brickman, and Dave Ildefonso to their respective teams. Since the MPBL Finals overlapped with the SEA Games, the SBP was compelled to revisit its roster plans.

Following extensive negotiations and a nationwide search for replacements, the final 12-man roster was confirmed as Jamie Malonzo, Dalph Panopio, Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, Ray Parks, Ced Manzano, Justin Chua, Robert Bolick, Von Pessumal, Allen Liwag, Abu Tratter, and Veejay Pre. Notably, only four athletes—Ravena, Wright, Parks, and Pre—remained from the original lineup that included players such as Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame.

The new ban on naturalized players excluded Brownlee and Kouame from the 5x5 team. To adapt, Kouame was reassigned to the men’s 3x3 squad where such players remain eligible, joining talents from the PBA, MPBL, and UAAP leagues.

Moreover, a further restriction imposed by Thailand barred players of mixed descent who obtained Philippine passports after age 16, leading to the removal of athletes Remy Martin, Mike Phillips, Kymani Ladi, and Brandon Rosser from contention. This caused another reshuffle, adding players like Malonzo, Bolick, Pessumal, and Tratter to the roster.

The success of Abra’s team in the MPBL North Division Finals then forced the release of Chiu, Brickman, and Ildefonso, prompting yet another revision days before the competition. The inclusion of Dalph Panopio, Ced Manzano, Justin Chua, and NCAA standout Allen Liwag helped fill these gaps.

Gilas coach Norman Black opted not to include Poy Erram despite late discussions, favoring Liwag, whom he had extensively scouted during the NCAA Final Four.

The SBP expressed gratitude to the players and partners across leagues for prioritizing national duty amid busy schedules. "After a tedious back and forth due to initially unclear and constantly changing rules in player eligibility, we at the SBP have submitted this list to the local organizing committee," the federation stated following final roster confirmation.

The SEA Games basketball competition will see the Philippines in Group A alongside Malaysia and Vietnam. Gilas will have a bye on the opening day before facing Malaysia and Vietnam on December 14 and 15 respectively. The format guarantees that no Group A team is eliminated in the group stage, while only one team from Group B—featuring Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Myanmar—faces early exit.

The tournament culminates in knockout semifinals leading to gold and bronze medal games, with a fifth-place playoff ensuring all teams compete for final placement.

Despite the hurdles and ongoing upheaval, Gilas Pilipinas embarks on its SEA Games campaign with hopes that this carefully reassembled squad can overcome adversity and contend for the championship.