By: Jerod Orcullo
Caelum Harris carries the name on the back of his jersey, but he wears his Filipino roots proudly on his chest.
After helping Fil-Am Nation Select secure a repeat championship at the Smart-National Basketball Training Center, Harris had nothing but praise for his experience playing in the Philippines once again.
“The level of basketball is definitely different. I feel like every time I come out here, everyone’s getting better, and it’s amazing to see that and know that a country I can represent is getting better every day,” he shared with Tiebreaker Times.
“It’s really inspirational for the future of the Philippines.”
Harris, who was part of the Gilas Pilipinas roster at the 2022 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championships, was also a key player for the Fil-Am Select squad that won the Division 1 championship last year.
Since then, the 6-foot-7 wing player has spent his young career at Gulf Coast State College, competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association after an NCAA ruling prevented him from joining the University of Nevada.
With one more season remaining before he can officially transition to college, Harris mentioned that he’s open to considering all opportunities, including offers from UAAP schools.
“Right now, I still have to do another year at JuCo, but I am exploring my options. I’m hoping to go back to Nevada, but I always like to keep my doors open,” explained Harris, who was part of the Mythical Team.
“I never say never. Everything depends on timing and how I’m feeling. But I do take every opportunity that’s given to me into consideration,” he added when asked about the possibility of accepting offers from Filipino colleges.
Defending the title was no easy feat for the 20-year-old athletic forward, as they faced tough competition from Phenom Bluefire and De La Salle Zobel’s Kieffer Alas.
Alas more than earned Harris’ respect, scoring 20 points along with two rebounds and two assists, leading his team to a near upset of Fil-Am Nation, 59-64.
In Harris’ words: “I want to give a big shoutout to Kieffer. He played his butt off this game, and it’s nice to see someone from the younger generation representing and going out there, going crazy.
“I love to see it, and it was a nice and competitive game.”
#WATCH: What’s next for Caelum Harris? 🤔
Is he open to attending a Philippine college if the right offer comes? 🏀
📹 @not_your_mvp /Tiebreaker Times#SmartNBTC pic.twitter.com/txyewi8EiI
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 6, 2025
