The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is seeking clarity as it remains in search of answers regarding player eligibility in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, which opens just weeks from now.
And it’s not just the country’s governing body for basketball, but also ASEAN counterparts competing in the said event, thus the crucial meeting they all requested with the Thailand SEAG Organizing Committee on November 26.
“Because nga maraming confusion, I think a lot of the countries requested that meeting,” SBP executive director Erika Dy told reporters on Monday.
The national federations have been left confused after the local organizers circulated a newer handbook, a part of which was supposed to detail the eligibility critera — only to create more questions than answers.
Initially, the passport-only rule was in effect for this year’s multi-sporting event. But that changed recently, as the tournament now bars all participating countries from fielding naturalized players, according to reports.
“The first eligibility rule they gave us a few months back was passport only,” Dy recounted. “Tapos, biglang nagpasa sila ng bagong handbook.
“In that handbook, it wasn’t clear naman,” she added.
“There were two different paragraphs. One paragraph was talking about FIBA rules, the other paragraph was talking about just the passports. So, naka-black and white na ‘yan.”
Not even a virtual meeting with THAISOC, with the presence of the Basketball Sport Association of Thailand and a representative from the FIBA Regional Office-Asia, was of help for the SBP and the others.
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“Even in that meeting medyo makikita mo ‘yung frustration nung dalawa, parang hindi sila nag-aagree doon sa mga interpretation ng rule,” said Dy.
Adding more to their perplexity was the THAISOC’s “notations” on certain players included in the initial shortlist they submitted, the reason why some names had to be taken out of the pool and replaced with newer ones.
The most significant of which, of course, is the possible omission of Justin Brownlee from the squad, although the SBP is still waiting for official word.
According to multiple sources closely monitoring the situation, THAISOC cleared Jason Brickman and Mike Phillips but denied Kymani Ladi.
“Hindi ko na sasabihin kung sino, pero some players kasi alam naman natin ‘yung in-question ‘yung 16-year-old passport rule ‘di ba?” Dy said.
“May iba roon na walang passport ng 16, inapprove nila. ‘Yung iba, hindi. Magulo talaga. So that’s what we’re dealing with.”
But whatever happens, Dy said that the federation already has a Plan B just in case the Thai organizers do tweak the SEA Games’ eligibility framework.
“Knowing it’s the SEA Games, and we know that the host has the prerogative on this, we were prepared for both — even if we already got the notice from the POC. So, we always have a Plan B,” the former player turned exec said.
They’ve already submitted another lineup, and are keeping their fingers crossed that some good news comes during the November 26 meeting.
“We submitted a lineup na I think two weeks ago, and according to President Bambol Tolentino from the POC, if we don’t hear any comments from that by the 26th, that means the lineup is approved,” Dy said.
