Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino remains steadfast in his belief that Gilas Men can defend their Southeast Asian Games title, even without the presence of a naturalized player.
“Gilas can win the title again — and I believe that,” Tolentino told reporters on Monday after the SEA Games Council meeting at the Grand Four Wings Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
“It is still painful not to see some of our players, but Gilas Pilipinas can still do it. They will still be the champion.”
Under multi-titled coach Norman Black, the Philippines will kick off its title-retention campaign in men’s basketball against Malaysia on Sunday at 11:30 AM in Pool A, followed by a clash with Vietnam on Monday at the same time at Nimibutr Stadium.
(C) POC-PSC Media Group
Thai organizers have barred naturalized players Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee, TNT’s 6-foot-7 Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and De La Salle University’s Michael Philips from the roster for being naturalized.
Black has finalized a squad composed of Thirdy Ravena, Matthew Wright, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Jamie Malonzo, Von Pessumal, Robert Bolick, Justin Chua, Dalph Panopio, Abu Tratter, Veejay Pre, Cedrick Manzano, and Allen Liwag.
The national basketball teams are set to fly to Bangkok on Thursday from Manila.
Tolentino added that the lineup of other participating teams remains unknown for now, including Pool A rivals Malaysia and Vietnam, and Pool B teams Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, and host Thailand.
The Philippines reclaimed the SEA Games crown it lost in Hanoi in 2022 against Indonesia, defeating host Cambodia 80-69 in the 2023 Cambodia Games.
Brownlee’s standout 23 points and seven rebounds in the gold medal game were key to that victory, despite facing a team with several naturalized players.
