Count Tim Cone in as one of those welcoming FIBA’s recent amendment of its player eligibility rules by raising the passport age requirement from 16 to 18.
Although it is not a top priority at this point, the Gilas Pilipinas chief strategist still appreciates the development as it will help the country’s national team programs become better in the future.
“It’s not a real focus of mine at this point. But you’re always looking to get better, you’re always looking to improve,” he said shortly after leading Ginebra past Terrafirma in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday.
The FIBA Central Board recently approved the changes to the regulations on the national status of players in both 5-on-5 and 3×3, aiming to provide more objective criteria in determining and changing a player’s national status.
Players who obtained a passport before 18, rather than 16, will no longer be considered restricted, which should benefit countries like the Philippines that couldn’t field some players in FIBA play in the past due to the old rule.
The amendment should also enable the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas — and the other federations — to search and recruit even more talent in an attempt to further improve the levels of its national teams.
Cone himself believes that the SBP will be looking for players that fit FIBA’s new criteria, from the PBA and on the local shores, to overseas as well.
“I assume the SBP is doing that right now, finding out who’s got 18 rather than 16, and seeing how that affects us,” the veteran internationalist said.
“Right now, it really doesn’t affect us at all until we can figure out the pool of people that might have slipped in now as opposed to not being able to be in before,” added Cone, who’s been Gilas’ head coach since 2024.
The team has already begun asking around, first with guard Jeremiah Grey, a Filipino-American born in Thousand Oaks, California — the kind of move which the Samahan should emulate to maximize the new ruling.
“For example, we went over and asked Miah ’cause he’s a Fil-Am, just curious to see because he didn’t get his passport at 16,” Cone said. “So we asked him, ‘Did you get your passport at 18?’ And he says, ‘I think I did, I’m not sure.’
“There’s a possibility he could, but you actually have to have a passport by 17, before your 18th birthday. So if he got it when he was 18, he still wouldn’t be eligible. But we’ll probably have to go around the league and find out.”
While it’s not a primary focus for now, Cone and Gilas are keeping an open mind about the matter, as they know how crucial talent identification could be.
One example is Quentin Millora-Brown getting clearance as a local, adding even more youth and size to the Gilas Men. This was evident during the recent Window 1 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers, where they swept Guam.
“Getting a guy like QMB was really impactful on our team, so… You just don’t know who’s out there and what’s to get, but you’re gonna keep your eyes and ears open,” he said.
