No longer guaranteed, SEA Games gold still a target

Gilas Pilipinas players lift head coach Chot Reyes to celebrate the SEA Games 2023 men’s basketball gold. –TEAM PHILIPPINES POOL

An improving region and eligibility gray areas are enough to pull coach Norman Black to a reality that has finally landed: Basketball in the Southeast Asian Games is no longer a guaranteed gold for the Philippines.

“It’s a lot different now. Things have changed at how teams are recruiting players now. Things are different in the sense that everybody has improved in Southeast Asia,” Black said during the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum on Tuesday.

In Cambodia two years ago, the host country formed a team with five Americans who were given local passports, which was the only requirement to see action in the SEA Games.

In Bangkok later this year, nobody knows exactly what the rules will be and who will be on the rosters of the country’s regional rivals.

Talent still there

“We don’t know the lineups of the other teams yet, just as they don’t know ours,” Black said.

The Grand Slam coach, who has won titles in the pros, collegiate and national team levels, guarantees one thing, though: His faith in Philippine basketball hasn’t diminished one bit.

“It’s gonna be tough. It’s not gonna be easy. But we still have the talent to win the Southeast Asian Games,” said Black during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.

Black will handle the SEA Games squad that will be led by Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame. Also committing to the team are Ray Parks Jr., Matthew Wright, Dave Ildefonso, Jason Brickman, Veejay Pre and Filipino American Remy Martin.

“The goal will definitely be to win the gold,” said Black. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”