Who will be in the Gilas Pilipinas lineup for SEA Games? It's up to Norman Black, says SBP

With Norman Black taking over the Gilas Pilipinas coaching reins for the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said it will be up to him to decide who will make up the squad.

Black, who handled the national team in the 2011 SEA Games, was named as the head coach of the Gilas squad again in the biennial meet this December with the PBA ongoing by then.

"Sa preference ni Coach Norman [Black] 'yun, kung sinong players ang dadalhin," said SBP executive director Erika Dy when asked about the possible composition of the national team for the biennial meet.

Dy said the eligibility of players will also be determined after the meeting of the Southeast Asian Games committees on August 27.

The schedule for this year's Southeast Asian Games, which will run from December 9 to 20, does not fall within a FIBA window. This will make it harder for Gilas Pilipinas to gather its usual players as they are committed to their respective clubs, either locally or abroad.

The PBA, however, previously stated that it will allow a certain number of players to join the SEA Games roster.

SBP also said having Black call the shots for Gilas in the biennial meet does not necessarily mean there will be a second national team, as the program remains committed to its long-term vision.

"The program remains the same. The SEA Games is a little bit tricky because it's not part of the FIBA calendar, so it's really a different tournament," Dy added.

Previously, Gilas Pilipinas fielded collegiate standouts, also known as the Gilas Cadets, to compete in the SEA Games, such as in 2013 and 2015.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News