Wearing the Gilas Pilipinas jersey means more to Filipino-American guard Remy Martin than reaching the NBA, as he prepares to represent the Philippines with Strong Group Athletics in the upcoming Jones Cup.
Martin called the opportunity to play for Gilas a “dream come true,” having dreamed of representing the national team since watching it as a child.
“I hope that one day Gilas gives me the opportunity. ’Cause that is my dream come true,” said the 28-year-old Martin, who has been included in numerous Gilas pools in the past but has yet to make his national team debut due to eligibility issues.
“That is bigger than making it to the NBA for me. Gilas is like — I’ve been watching them since I was young, and I always want to be on that type of platform, and I hope the country and FIBA see that.”
The former Kansas guard was part of the ‘23 for 23’ pool for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with his most recent inclusion coming in the Gilas Pilipinas pool for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Martin obtained his Philippine passport after turning 16, which previously prevented him from being classified as a local player under FIBA’s eligibility rules. FIBA has since raised the cutoff age for passport acquisition from 16 to 18.
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“We’ve been trying to figure it out. I like to think I respect everybody, and I want everybody to know that I have to prove myself. Every situation that I’m in, I don’t look at it as, you know — I look at it as how many players are trying to play for their country,” said Martin.
“I got it a little later. I don’t know the exact age, but I had it for a while now. I just know I was dual before 16, so I just didn’t get my passport, but I was already dual.”
Now, Martin has another opportunity to don the Philippine colors, this time with Strong Group Athletics in the Jones Cup, where he can finally represent the country he has long dreamed of playing for.
“I’m just happy to be in the Philippines. This feels like home. You know, I have my family in Tarlac, so I come here almost every year. Just like, I get to actually play and represent the country that I’ve been, you know, waiting for since high school,” he shared.
“It’s been a dream come true to me, and I’m always grateful to play basketball, but it makes it so much more special now because I get to play for the Philippines.”
With his desire to represent the Philippines firmly in mind, Martin is also keeping the door open to other opportunities in the country, including a possible stint in the PBA.
“Anything about the Philippines is always a consideration. Like, I always want to show love and support. Whenever I have my platform, like, whenever I like, link something, it’s always, you know, the Filipino flag or just showing love and representing the Philippines because I think basketball is growing here and I know everybody here loves basketball,” Martin said.
“So whenever I get the opportunity to play for the Philippines, I represent it through thick and thin.”
